Back to the Premier League Newsfeed

Middlesbrough coach Steve Agnew admits admiration for Pep Guardiola as he aims for shock win over Manchester City on Sunday

Middlesbrough's interim head coach Steve Agnew is keen to outsmart Pep Guardiola this weekend, having been in awe of his Barcelona team.

Guardiola will hope Manchester City emerge from the Riverside Stadium on Sunday still in the Premier League's top four after a somewhat underwhelming campaign where he is yet to reach the heights he scaled with Barca and Bayern Munich.

It is the work he did in Catalonia, with an aesthetically-pleasing team that won three La Liga titles and a pair of Champions League trophies, which left Agnew so impressed.

Middlesbrough's interim head coach Steve Agnew is keen to outsmart Pep Guardiola
Middlesbrough's interim head coach Steve Agnew is keen to outsmart Pep Guardiola
Agnew admits to having been in awe of Guardiola - now at Man City - and his Barcelona team
Agnew admits to having been in awe of Guardiola - now at Man City - and his Barcelona team
Agnew picked up his first win in charge of Middlesbrough in midweek by beating Sunderland
Agnew picked up his first win in charge of Middlesbrough in midweek by beating Sunderland

However, Agnew sees his own meeting with Guardiola as an opportunity to topple someone he holds so much respect for.