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Pep Guardiola has hailed Terry Venables as an inspirational and visionary leader following the former England manager’s death at the age of 80. Guardiola, the Manchester City boss, remembers well the impact Venables had at his boyhood club Barcelona in the 1980s. Guardiola was both a ballboy and a youth player at the Nou Camp when Venables coached the Spanish giants, guiding them to the domestic title in 1985 and the European Cup final the following year. A photograph has emerged on social media of a young Guardiola looking on from pitchside as Venables celebrated one particular triumph. “As a Barcelona fan, he gave us La Liga after 11 or 12 years,” said Guardiola, who went on to captain and manage Barcelona himself. “His impact there was incredible. “In that era I was 13 or 14 years old. It was the first time I saw us win La Liga. For many years it was not possible because of other teams. “He introduced something that had never been (done there) before, especially a certain type of pressing and the set-pieces. He introduced many, many things. “A true gentleman for the people. Unfortunately, he could not win the Champions League in that time, with the final against Steaua Bucharest, but it’s a big loss for English football. “I was a ballboy so I wasn’t in contact with him, I just gave the ball to his players, but I remember talking to friends of mine, who did play with him, and their words for him were not just as a manager but as a person – so funny, appearing on programmes, singing Frank Sinatra. “He was a proper, proper man. I am so sorry for his family.” Former England goalkeeper David Seaman has also paid tribute to Venables. Seaman was England’s number one when they reached the semi-finals of Euro 96. The 60-year-old told Good Morning Britain: “First of all it was a really sad day yesterday and when I started seeing the clips and all the tributes coming in, all I could remember was the smile on his face. He always had a smile on his face even when he was angry, if I’m honest. “He was just a great guy, he was brilliant at man-to-man management. “He was just brilliant and with Euro 96 everything just got better and better and I’ll never forget the day before Euro 96 and he came up to me when he just got the job, looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘You’re my England number one’ and the confidence I gained from that was just brilliant and something I’ll never forget.” Gareth Southgate missed the all-important penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final shoot-out loss to Germany. He was just a great guy, he was brilliant at man to man management David Seaman Seaman recalled memories during his time under Venables and drew comparisons with the current England boss, insisting Southgate has learned a lot from ‘El Tel’. He continued: “You didn’t feel that disappointed because he actually told us that we had achieved something special here. “I know we had gone out in the semi-final but he wanted us to know we had really achieved something. We got England to the semi-final at Wembley and the most important thing he’d done was that the England fans started loving the England team again because of the way we played. He was just a really nice guy. “Gareth will have learned a lot from Terry because Gareth very rarely loses it and that’s what Terry was like. He was always calm and confident and that’s what he’s learned from him that you don’t have to be really loud on the sidelines. You’d just watch and learn. “The way Terry treated Gareth, it just shows you the class of the manager and he was just a really special guy.” Read More They were there like animals – Pep Guardiola wants City team and fans together Bruno Fernandes talks up Alejandro Garnacho after stunning goal at Everton Son Heung-min hurt by defeats but ‘very pleased’ with way Tottenham are playing David Seaman pays tribute to ‘great guy’ Terry Venables Football rumours: Victor Osimhen keen on making Chelsea move On this day in 2007: Christine Ohuruogu wins appeal against Olympic ban

Pep Guardiola paid tribute to Terry Venables ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League fixture against RB Leipzig, describing the late England manager as “a true gentleman”. Venables, who also managed Spurs and Barcelona, has passed away aged 80. “He’s a big loss for English football, for his family, for his wife,” Guardiola said. “I’ve read a lot in these last 24 hours, how many players talked about him... big condolences to all of his family.” Guardiola also described the “incredible” impact Venables had on La Liga as Barca’s coach. Read More David Seaman recalls amusing Gazza story as he pays tribute to Terry Venables Terry Venables gives important advice to Southgate after Euro 96 in resurfaced clip Ten Hag makes Garnacho claim after stunning bicycle kick goal against Everton

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes it is crucial the team and the fans continue to feed off each other’s energy. Guardiola feels that after his players provided the initial spark last season, it was the power of supporters that propelled City towards their treble success. “The stadium is all the time full and we have to play as best as possible and create as much as possible to energise and make our people with us,” said Guardiola at a press conference. “I have the feeling the team is playing really good and these guys – what they have done for many, many years, we love doing it together. “The games last season – semi-finals, quarter-finals, important games like against Arsenal when we played for the Premier League, they were there like animals and we need that. “In my humble opinion, to be successful we need our fans, all the time, being here. Thank you for coming, because without that it is impossible. Together we are stronger. “It is much better for ourselves to feel that they are there. We play better but we have to do the first steps, the first gesture. We have to do it.” City host German side RB Leipzig on Tuesday needing just a draw to wrap up top spot in Champions League Group G. The games last season – semi-finals, quarter-finals, important games like against Arsenal when we played for the Premier League, they were there like animals and we need that Pep Guardiola The holders have won the first four matches of their title defence and have already secured a place in the knockout stages, as have Leipzig – a side they thrashed 7-0 at home last season. Guardiola said: “Of course the first step is done for both sides – so congratulations to Leipzig – to qualify for the next round in February. “But it is important to finish first for prestige, for everything. We believe that when we play the last 16, having the second leg at home is not decisive but is a little bit of an advantage and we have to take it.” Midfielder Jack Grealish is unlikely to return after illness while Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are nursing knocks. Guardiola said: “I’m not much optimistic about good news about some people coming back but we will see. I think it will be the same people who played against Liverpool.” Defender John Stones was an unused substitute at the weekend but while Guardiola said he was “really, really close” he was “not ready for playing”. Kevin De Bruyne, who has been out since undergoing hamstring surgery in August, said over the weekend he hopes to return to action early in the new year. Guardiola said: “If he said January, it will be January. I would have loved to have him all season but now he has had a tough injury and surgery. He has to recover well. “He’s said end of December, new year, so it will be a happy new year for everyone.” Read More Bruno Fernandes talks up Alejandro Garnacho after stunning goal at Everton Son Heung-min hurt by defeats but ‘very pleased’ with way Tottenham are playing David Seaman pays tribute to ‘great guy’ Terry Venables Football rumours: Victor Osimhen keen on making Chelsea move On this day in 2007: Christine Ohuruogu wins appeal against Olympic ban The sporting weekend in pictures