“Always going to stay in my heart” – Former Man City winger reflects on time with club ahead of Champions League reunion

Former Manchester City winger and now Slovan Bratislava captain, Vladimir Weiss has reflected on his time at the club and how special the reunion will be this week.

The Slovakian international first moved to Manchester as a teenager and progressed through the Club’s more senior Academy ranks, whilst most notably scoring in the 2008 FA Youth Cup final to beat Chelsea to lift the esteemed trophy.

Weiss went on to register five appearances for Manchester City’s senior side before joining Bolton Wanderers, Rangers and Espanyol on loan agreements, before eventually bringing an end to his time at the Etihad Stadium by joining Pescara on a permanent deal in 2012.

Vladimir Weiss and Manchester City are now set for a remarkable reunion at the very pinnacle of European football on Tuesday night, in the first-ever meeting between the Premier League champions and SK Slovan Bratislava.

Speaking to Manchester City’s official club website ahead of the meeting with Bratislava on Tuesday night, the Slovakian club’s captain and former Etihad Stadium winger reflected warmly on his time in England.

“I have the best memories of my time at City,” said Weiss. “It was an amazing achievement to break through to the first team at a young age with the players that were already in the squad.”

The now 34-year-old continued, “With time, there were better and better players and with Mancini coming in, my chances were getting smaller. I am always going to watch City, not just because they’re my first club but because they play the best football in the world for me.

“To watch City for me is a pleasure. I’m following the club and it’s a club that’s always going to stay in my heart.”

During his time at the club and his ascent to earning the captaincy at the Bratislava side, Vladimir Weiss has established himself as one of their most prestigious players and most successful in front of goal.

Tuesday night against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will be his 137th appearance for the club, having already scored a remarkable 34 goals and provided a further 25 assists in that time.