Xavi: Of course Guardiola will be a success in the Premier League!

Xavi has backed Pep Guardiola to be a certain success in the Premier League after the Bayern Munich coach confirmed he would join an English club.

Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season and has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City, admitting on Tuesday that his desire for a new challenge was behind his decision to leave Germany.

Xavi, who won three Spanish league titles as well as two Champions League crowns under the Catalan at Barcelona, believes Guardiola will be a hit wherever he goes.

"I don't think it is even a question if he will be a success in England or not," he told the Daily Mirror. "Of course he will be, like he is a success everywhere.

"From the way his Barcelona and Bayern teams have played football, it is clear he plays a philosophy of football the fans will enjoy, but Pep is so much more than that."

Xavi revealed that coaching in the Premier League had long been an ambition of Guardiola's, recalling their conversations about the English top flight at Barcelona.

"There was never a question of if Pep was going to manage in England - the only question would be when," he added.

"When I was at Barcelona we would always be talking about the Premier League, and our respect for the quality of the teams, the players, and the pace the game was played at.

"Even when he was at Barcelona, you could see it was his dream to one day manage in England."