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His arrival was distinctly low key, not in keeping with the messianic welcome that awaited him.

Pep Guardiola pulled up at Manchester City’s training complex in a black cab, dressed casually in jeans, T-shirt and trainers, looking every inch the ordinary – if uber hip – man on the street.

But there was nothing ordinary about the official unveiling of the new boss, with 5,800 fans turning out to welcome the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich chief.

The message was clear – City feel they have bagged the most coveted manager in world ­football and were not about to underplay his arrival and the seismic impact they feel he will have.

And who can blame them? Guardiola’s glittering CV, replete with 22 trophies over nine years, suggests they have signed a ­guaranteed winner, a man whose revered style of play has made him the stand-out coach of his generation.

The build-up to the ­Spaniard’s arrival on stage at the City Football Academy was drawn out to create maximum impact, the 45-year-old striding out to a crescendo of cheers, ­accompanied by the strains of What’s The Story (Morning Glory) by City-supporting Oasis.

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There could not have been a bigger contrast to the unveiling of his predecessor, Manuel Pellegrini, introduced in a cramped Portakabin at the old training ground and forced to share top billing with new signing Fernandinho.

On this occasion there was only one star attraction, the man being paid an exorbitant £45million over three years to take the club back to the very top, domestically and in Europe. Guardiola tried to ­downplay the belief his mere arrival brought with it the certainty of Premier League and Champions League glory, insisting he would need time to implement his philosophy and for it to yield results.

“Thank you for coming here in your house, my new house,” ­Guardiola told the fans. “I’m so glad to be here and thank you to Manchester City for giving me this amazing opportunity to live in England and do my job in the Premier League.

(Image: PA)

“I proved myself in Barcelona, after that I proved myself in Germany, and I wanted to prove myself in England. I want the people who enjoy football to be proud of what we do. After that, maybe we will win our titles.

“But I can’t do that alone. I need the players, the staff and we need our fans. Without that it’s ­impossible.

“I have my point of view, my way of doing my job. I need time, but as soon as possible we are going to try to create team spirit.

“That is the most important thing. After, you can create tactics, but we have to create something special with ourselves.”

Asked to identify the biggest challenge he faced, Guardiola again chose to err on the side of caution, rather than promise a repeat of the glories he enjoyed at his previous clubs.

(Image: Reuters)

“Play good,” he said. “And after, try to win one game and after a second one and another, but the first target is team spirit and to play good.”

But there was a clear message for underperforming players, who reached the Champions League semi-finals last season but scraped fourth place on goal difference.

“I know their quality but they have to show me, show the fans again,” said Guardiola. “The past is the past. The people don’t come here to remember what we did. We are here to try again.”

Guardiola made 366 ­appearances for Barcelona in a glittering 11-year playing career, but rues never having joined an English club.

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His appointment at City goes some way to making up for that, according to the man himself, whose new staff left in his office gifts including a Manchester tart, ­Coronation Street box set, a guide to Manchester, a box of PG Tips and an umbrella embossed with his initials .

“One of my dreams would have been play here,” said Guardiola. “It was not possible and now my dream came true.”

But he warned City would never be able to sign Lionel Messi, with whom he enjoyed success at ­Barcelona.

“He’s not a bad player, this guy, but I’m sorry, Messi has to stay in Barcelona for the rest of his career,” he said.

If Guardiola can restore City to the status of Premier League winners and lead them to that elusive first Champions League title, their fans might just forgive him for failing to land Messi.