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Pep Guardiola targets good football and team spirit as Manchester City reign gets underway

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Pep Guardiola gets a rock star welcome from 6,000 Manchester City fans as he arrives for his new job

Pep Guardiola insists his priority is to establish team spirit and good football as he begins his reign as Manchester City boss.

The Spaniard was unveiled to tens of thousands of supporters at the City Football Academy on Sunday where he set out his vision, insisting his long-term aim is to bring through players from the academy.

Guardiola took questions from fans in person and from across the world on social media, and he said the ultimate goal is to "play good football" that they all can be proud of.

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"The first target is team spirit and to play good as much as possible, and then after try to win one game and then a second one, then another.

"What I want is for our supporters and the people who love football to enjoy and be proud of what we did. Afterwards, we will see what is our level. Maybe we achieve titles, but if the people are not proud of us, it is nothing.

New Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola during the Cityzens weekend at the City Football Academy
Image: Pep Guardiola took questions from an audience of thousands of City fans

"It's a challenge. That's why I am here. But I cannot do it alone. We need our fans. Without that, it is impossible.

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"As soon as possible we are going to try and create a team spirit. We need to create something special between each other. That is the most important thing. The rest will come."

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Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola has been part of City's long-term vision, pioneered by ex-Barca officials Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, since its conception in 2012.

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And Guardiola said the development of City's academy, based on the model of Barca's famous 'La Masia', was crucial in his decision to join the club.

He said: "I grew up in one of the most important academies in the world in Barcelona, where the young players are so important to develop and could maybe one day play in the first team.

New Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola during the Cityzens weekend at the City Football Academy
Image: Manchester City hosted the Cityzens weekend at their academy campus

"One of the reasons I came here is because I know, from Txiki and other people here, how good they are working in the academy with the young players. For me it's good to see young players of 13, 14 and 15 playing, growing and imagining that one day they can play in the first team.

"But it's important for the fans too because they can feel special about that player."

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