Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers believes Unai Emery and Pep Guardiola share a similar demanding approach to management.
Rogers joined Man City's academy from West Brom in 2019, but never went on to make a first-team appearance under Pep Guardiola before leaving on a permanent basis last year to Middlesbrough. The forward's career took off after joining Villa back in January as Emery continues to develop his game.
"Him and Pep are kind of similar in a way," Rogers said in an interview with TNT Sports. "In terms of the way they structure their teams, in terms of the way that they're so demanding of you, structurally and tactically.
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"But obviously working closer with Unai Emery than I did obviously with Pep, we've got that relationship where it's like a love-hate kind of thing. He wants the best of me. He's going to be demanding. He's going to be on top of me non-stop throughout the week, because he knows my capabilities.
"He knows what I can do. He wants to push me, wants to improve me and that's the best way for me. With me and him, it's perfect. I may not like it at the time. Maybe, no, I might not agree with it, but I know he's one of the best managers in the world, in my opinion, so I'm going to listen. I'm going to take it on board, because I know that it's going to bring positive results, not just to the team, but for myself personally."
Rogers' assessment of Emery is very similar to Jhon Duran's, who spoke about his relationship with the manager earlier this season.
"There are [moments of] love and hate, sometimes! But no, I feel very grateful to him, very grateful to him and his coaching staff. We've had many problems, but they're normal, I think," Duran said in an interview with Sky Sports.
"The truth is, I'm very happy to be here with him, to share the space with him, to learn from his teachings. He wants to teach me all the time. He's protective, sometimes. Sometimes it happens, and there are sparks! So we're constantly fighting! But I think it's normal for a young man of my age, and a person like him who already knows a lot, who has already achieved so many things.
"And the truth is, I feel very, very grateful to be in this space, and that he's a person as great in football as he is. To learn more from him every day, and I'm very happy with him here. Yes, sometimes we argue. Because he has his point of view, I have mine, and I've never been the one who stays quiet. If I have something to say, no matter who it is, I say it."
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