Man City Square
Fansided

Manchester City: Players loaned to Bristol City

By Jason Bardwell

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09: Lee Johnson, manager of Bristol City and Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City shake hands after the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Manchester City and Bristol City at Etihad Stadium on January 9, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09: Lee Johnson, manager of Bristol City and Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City shake hands after the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Manchester City and Bristol City at Etihad Stadium on January 9, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 09: Lee Johnson, manager of Bristol City and Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City shake hands after the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Manchester City and Bristol City at Etihad Stadium on January 9, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 09: Lee Johnson, manager of Bristol City and Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City shake hands after the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Manchester City and Bristol City at Etihad Stadium on January 9, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

The two City sides will meet for the second time tomorrow night in the Carabao Cup. With the first game giving Manchester City a slim lead, it will certainly not be straightforward for Pep’s side to progress.

Under Lee Johnson, Bristol City have gained some high-profile admiration. Defeating United in the Quarter Finals, Jose stated the Championship side were lucky. To just say that though is not crediting the Bristol City manager with what he has managed. Both this season and his previous season and half.

Currently, City find themselves in a play-off position, after a couple of seasons fighting relegation. It’s certainly a change from when Johnson took over the Robins in February 2016. Even before he took the reigns at City, Johnson had been encouraged by Manchester City.

While he was at Oldham, with City being so close, he was allowed to view behind the scenes at the Etihad. It helped him understand the City philosophy and helped him progress in the right way. Brian Marwood, the City Football Services boss for Manchester City, was key in extending the invitation. A trip to their sister club, New York City FC followed and a visit to a psychology profiler. All of which was subsidised by the Manchester club.

Now, it seems, Manchester City are ready to utilize the manager in charge of their next opponents. It has been no secret that Manchester City have prefered to loan out Academy players. Up until now, it’s been to the continent with FC Girona and NAC Breda being the prefered destinations.

In Lee Johnson, and his management style, City have seen an opportunity to blood their youth prospects closer to home. Bristol City are now, reportedly, being given first refusal on the upcoming prospects.

Next: Man City: Carabao Comeback

This kind of agreement is beneficial for both sides, allowing the Bristol side the pick of some of the best young talent in England. Meanwhile Manchester City can monitor the players progression in, what is a very competitive league, and one of the highest attended in all of Europe.

Home/Domestic Cups