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Hugo Viana has replaced Txiki Begiristain as director of football at Manchester City and he has been backed to be a success at the Etihad.
Txiki Begiristain believes Manchester City are in safe hands with his replacement Hugo Viana, insisting the two men see football in a similar way.
Begiristan, 61, stepped down as City's director of football this summer and has been replaced by Viana, the former Portugal midfielder who joined the club from Sporting after the January transfer window.
The 42-year-old spent some time working alongside former Barcelona executive Begiristain before taking over the role this summer and overseeing a busy transfer window at the Etihad.
Begiristain praised Viana's ability to be decisive when required and is confident City can continue to enjoy success with a new man in charge of football operations.
“He has been a top selection," Begiristain said. "I would say that he is quite close to what I feel I am. He is so calm but he is also very decisive.
"In the winter transfer window he couldn’t be here, he was at Sporting but I’ve seen it in the last few months – the criteria he has and the way he sees football. The decisions on players – I think we are in top hands.”
Viana has already signalled the end of some City careers, with Kevin De Bruyne not offered a new contract, Kyle Walker sold and Jack Grealish loaned to Everton, before three more treble winners left on deadline day in Ederson, Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan.
His biggest challenge might well be replacing Pep Guardiola, who is likely to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of next season. Begiristain laid the foundations for City to tempt Guardiola to the Etihad in 2016, and his praise for his former Nou Camp teammate and colleague shows how difficult replacing him is going to be.
“Firstly, we played together, and we have shared a lot," he added. "We then started working together. That helped when I was here and he was available and came here.
"You have to understand your role and then also you have to understand that he is the guy. He is the leader in the building, and he has to be seen like this. You have to help him to stay calm and show him that you are capable with the structures of the club to help him build the best team in the world.
"Once you have the best team in the world, he is going to make it play the best football in the world – with him you can have both of these. With others, you can have the best team in the world, but you don’t play the best football. You have to have trust and of course, it helped that we are friends, and we played together.”
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