Former Cityzen Samir Nasri has a hard head in Arsenal’s title chances. The French former international expects Manchester City to seize power in the hunt for the championship in England on Wednesday evening. His personal preference is also with City, although his role was played out after the arrival of Pep Guardiola.
Nasri opens book about conversation with Guardiola
As a former Arsenal and City player, Nasri looked ahead to tonight’s Premier League clash with L’Équipe. The 35-year-old former international, who now works as an analyst, is looking forward to the duel between his two old clubs. He said, “I can’t wait, because the winner puts one hand on the title and because it’s two clubs that have meant something to me in my career.”
Like the analysts in England, Nasri expects City to become champions again. “They are at their peak form at the moment and all players are fit for the season finale, unlike in previous years. At Arsenal, the draft is just coming in, after they have been at the top for almost the entire season. But sometimes when you’re so close to your goal and you’re not used to winning, you get the jitters,” he continued.
Nasri himself hopes that City will become champions because he is still friends with some players and has a good relationship with technical director Txiki Begiristain. The former dribbler also briefly worked with Guardiola, but left in the summer of 2016 just after his appointment on a rental basis to Seville to be sold to Antalyaspor a year later. This is how his stay at City came to an end after six years.
Nasri regrets that he never played under Guardiola
In retrospect, Nasri regrets that he never played under Guardiola. “Of course I sometimes wonder that, because given my qualities he is the best possible manager. He’s arrogant, but in a good way. He knows he is the best trainer in the world and conveys that to you. Pep knows what he brings to a club and had carte blanche when he joined City. But he was open and honest with me,” Nasri revealed.
For example, in the preparation of Guardiola, Nasri was told that he came back from vacation too fat. “I said to him, ‘Can you tone it down, don’t yell at me like that. I’m not a kid anymore, I’m 29. Maybe my vacation was an outlet to do what I wanted for a while, because I had a difficult season. and a lot has happened in my private life’. Then Pep apologised to me.”
Despite this, Nasri did not feature in Guardiola’s plans. In August 2016, the 41-time France international played his last game for City. It marked the end of a successful period in which Nasri won two league titles with City. Titles he never won with Arsenal. Yet he also has fond memories of his time in London. He said, “I’ve had three great years at Arsenal.”
