By Graham Hill
ASTON VILLA boss Dean Smith got an edge over rival Garry Monk ahead of Sunday’s Second City Derby – by getting some coaching tips from Pep Guardiola!
Smith attended an League Managers’ Association talk with the Manchester City boss at the Etihad Stadium this week.
But his Birmingham City counterpart Monk was not there.
And Smith admitted he was able to take some of Guardiola’s philosophy on board.
The Villa boss said: “It was really good to listen to him
.
“You can take little things from it – the biggest thing he said was ‘Be yourself’.
“I’m not Pep Guardiola so you have to be yourself in everything you do.
“That’s one of the big things and all the people in the room would’ve taken a lot from it.
“His enthusiasm and his addiction for the game.
“It was telling why he’s so successful.
“I offered him a lift home afterwards but he’d already booked his Uber!”
Villa Roar 