Omar Berrada’s move to Manchester United from Manchester City doesn’t represent a shift in power in Manchester. City manager Pep Guardiola pointed this out during the embargoed section of his pre-game press conference before his side’s FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Guardiola’s thoughts on Berrada’s departure can be seen in the video below.
“Maybe United thinks with this person everything’s going to change. Congratulations.”
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City’s success won’t end just because their chief of football operations, Omar Berrada, is leaving to join the reds.
👉https://t.co/BNOXdeEFja#ManCity
— BBC Sport Manchester (@BBCRMsport) January 25, 2024
The loss of Berrada is a blow to Manchester City
There is no doubt that the loss of Omar Berrada is a blow to Manchester City. Berrada’s appointment as CEO of Manchester United is no doubt a major coup for the Red Devils. Berrada does take a wealth of knowledge and experience from City to their fiercest rivals. He has been a key off-field figure during Manchester City’s era of success. His contribution to the signings the club has made during his tenure and in other areas has been immensely valuable. There is no doubt about that and he leaves with the good wishes of the club for his contribution during City’s era of success.
But Manchester City are well placed and too well run to see the loss of one off-field figure set the club back. Despite Omar Berrada’s departure, the key pillars of the European champions remain. Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, Txiki Begiristain, Ferran Soriano and Pep Guardiola all remain at the treble winners. They represent some of the very best operators in football in their field. While Berrada departs, the world champions still have a strong core group of off-field leaders to run the club.
As Guardiola points out there’s more than just a strong CEO that creates success
But as Pep Guardiola pointed out despite Berrada’s departure Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland remain at Manchester City. As it stands on the pitch the European champions are currently well ahead of their arch-rivals. It will take time for that gap to be bridged based on performances this season. City’s resounding 3-nil Manchester derby win in late October is evidence of this. The 11-point gap between the clubs in the Premier League table is also further proof. That gap is unlikely to be bridged in the immediate future as Pep Guardiola pointed out during his pre-game press conference. The strength of Manchester City on the pitch which is led by Pep Guardiola doesn’t appear to be on the decline in the immediate future.
It will take time and some clever moves by Manchester United to catch Pep Guardiola’s side. Omar Berrada’s appointment as Manchester United’s CEO could be the first of such clever moves for the Red Devils. But the world champions are such a well-run club it wouldn’t be expected that they’ll plummet from contention anytime soon.
United’s signing of Berrada is a signal of intent from Manchester City’s fierce rivals. But a lot has to go right for them to catch the European champions on the pitch as Pep Guardiola pointed out yesterday.
Summary
Omar Berrada’s move from City to United has been a prominent talking point this past week. It has been the talk of football since it was announced almost a week ago.
But as Pep Guardiola told the media the world champions are still the team to catch in England. It may take some time before that changes or more to the point if Omar Berrada can help lead United past Manchester City.
But while Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola and co remain at Manchester City the status quo may remain for a while longer yet.
You can hear the thoughts of Esteemed Kompany host Steven Mcinerney on Omar Berrada’s departure to Manchester United in the video below.
