Mikel Arteta names key trait that is 'secret' to Pep Guardiola's success

Mikel Arteta says the secret to Pep Guardiola's success is because he works harder than any other manager in the game.

The two are going toe-to-toe as Arteta's Arsenal look to win the Premier League for the first time in 20 years, potentially ending Guardiola and City's run of three successive titles.

Arsenal were in a similar position last year, leading City heading into the final stages of the season, but a late dip in form - coupled with an uptick in performance levels for Guardiola's side - saw the Gunners finish as runners-up.

The two know each other extremely well and have similar footballing backgrounds. Indeed, Arteta graduated from Barcelona's academy in 1999 when Guardiola was on the playing staff at Camp Nou, before reuniting at City when the former's playing career came to an end in 2016.

Arteta, speaking on FedEx’s ‘Outside the Box’ series, has now revealed what he believes to be the secret ingredient for a manager who has been at the very top of the game ever since he was appointed Barcelona manager in 2008.

"I got injured at Everton, I did my ACL, and I was out for a while," Arteta said. "Suddenly it clicked again (wanting to become a manager), and things happen for a reason. Pep decided to contact me in that period, and he wanted me to be part of his coaching staff.

WATCH ARTETA TALK ABOUT GUARDIOLA

“Mikel Arteta featured in episode two of FedEx’s ‘Outside the Box’ content series. To watch the full episode, please click here.”

"I’ve known him (Guardiola) since I was 15 years old. And we see the game in a really similar way because we've been educated in the same academy. For me, Pep is a genius and he works harder than I've ever seen anybody work. That is the secret (to his success), the discipline and the consistency that he has."

Guardiola is one of football's most successful managers, breaking numerous records at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City en route to winning 11 league titles, three Champions League crowns and numerous other European and domestic cup competitions.

He famously won six trophies with Barcelona in a calendar year (2009/10), developing the genius of Lionel Messi, and his second year at City saw the club become the first team to ever reach 100 points in a Premier League season.

Arteta's Arsenal can only reach 92 points should they win every game between now and the end of the season, but that may be enough to earn the club a first Premier League crown since 2003/04, when Arsene Wenger led the Gunners through an unbeaten season - a feat that not even Guardiola has been able to match at City.

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