Patrick Vieira is headed back to Manchester – for a week, anyway.
The New York City FC head coach is spending this week at City Football Academy in England to observe Pep Guardiola’s work with the Manchester City first-team.
Vieira, who served as head coach of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad before taking over as NYCFC manager ahead of the 2016 season, led New York to their first-ever playoff appearance this year.
Manchester City and NYCFC are both owned by the City Football Group.
“I’m going to Manchester to spend the week over there to spend some time with the first-team to see how they work,” Vieira told NYCFC.com. “To be learning next to Pep Guardiola at City Football Academy – talking with the guys from the City Football Group, to the scouting department — this is how we start to prepare for next season.
“I’ve had a chance to meet Pep before – I believe he’s one of the best, if not the best. If you look at his results and what he’s won over the last few years, that’s one thing, but it’s the way he’s won things, with the style of football that he plays… I think there’s obviously something to learn from that. I’m really looking forward to the trip because I always want to learn and this will be a really interesting week for me.”
A finalist for MLS Coach of the Year, Vieira guided NYCFC to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference this regular season. The club was trounced in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by Toronto FC, losing 7-0 on aggregate.
