Angelino will come up against former employers Manchester City in the Champions League tonight for the first time since he said Pep Guardiola ‘killed’ his confidence during his time at the Etihad.

The 24-year-old made just 12 appearances after rejoining City in the summer of 2019 before being sent on loan to RB Leipzig in the next transfer window.

Angelino has shined for Leipzig since leaving Man City
Getty Images – Getty

The Spanish left-back has since thrived in Germany, reaching the Champions League semi-finals in the 2019/20 season, and made his loan move to the Bundesliga outfit permanent in February.

Now, Angelino’s Leipzig will travel to Manchester this evening to face City in their Group A opener.

The defender will come face to face with old boss Guardiola, who he claims didn’t give him a deserved shot in the Premier League.

Reflecting on his time at the Etihad earlier this year, he said: “It killed me.

“The confidence was everything, when you don’t have the trust of a coach it is everything.

Guardiola let Angelino leave City with haste
AFP

“I was judged from two pre-season games and then I didn’t get my chance for a few months.”

Overall, he said he rated playing under Guardiola as a ’50-50 experience’, adding: “On one side I really learned a lot from Pep, but I obviously didn’t play as much as I wanted to or deserved to.”

Angelino later clarified his comments, saying: “It is not that he killed me as a player. He made me the player that I am.

“It is just that I didn’t play. That is why I said he killed my confidence. I didn’t get much game time (at City).

“But, I will always be thankful for the help he (Guardiola) gave me.”

Angelino during his difficult stint with Man City
Getty – Contributor

Angelino first joined City as a youth player and had a number of loan spells before joining PSV Eindhoven permanently in 2018. 

A year later, however, City exercised a buy-back option to address a weakness in the squad at left-back.

The return move did not work out.

“I had a rest when I was with Pep for six months,” Angelino said. “That was enough. I don’t want it again. 

“That’s why I want to be on the pitch. I’ve had enough holidays.”

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