Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher reckons that Manchester City have done a Barcelona by appointing Pep Guardiola, as he believes that this appointment is similar to the decision taken by Barcelona with Johan Cruyff in 1988.

The Dutchman is widely credited for changing the entire face of the club. He brought about the total football concept to Catalonia. While the younger generation lauds the team under Guardiola, it would not have been possible without the presence ofCruyff. The Dutchman groomed players like Guardiola when they were coming through the youth teams.

Carragher says that City have the ability to go on and have a similar period with Guardiola at the helm. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager moved to City after resisting offers from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea. Widely seen as one of the best managers in the world, Guardiola will be transforming everything at the club from the youth system. Since he wants his youth teams to be playing in a similar way to the senior team, the transformation made by the manager will be evident in the next decade or more according to Carragher. A product of the Liverpool system, Carragher enjoyed a remarkably successful career and made about 700 appearances for the Merseyside club before retiring a few years ago.

“This is when it all changes for Manchester City. They are at the point where it becomes about more than trophies. Appointing Pep Guardiola, they will believe, is their Johan Cruyff moment.It is 28 years since Barcelona made the most significant managerial decision in their history. In 1988, they were a big name but they were far removed from being Spaina��s dominant force, never mind one of world footballa��s superpowers. But their hierarchy had seen the work of Cruyff, their former player, at Ajax,a�? said Carragher.