Pep Guardiola has won his first battle with Jose Mourinho by convincing Brian Kidd to be part of his backroom staff.
MEN Sport can reveal Manchester City’s incoming manager held face-to-face talks with the 67-year-old coach two weeks ago, during a discreet visit to the Etihad.
Kidd - a legend on both sides of Manchester - had been linked with a return to Old Trafford to be part of Mourinho’s new regime.
But despite Guardiola bringing with him his four-man backroom team from Bayern Munich - and trying to recruit former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta - he was keen to keep Kidd as part of his set up.
The 1968 European Cup winner, who played for City and Manchester United, has also served as a coach for both clubs.
He was Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant in four Premier League title-winning campaigns in the 1990s.
At City he assisted Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini in the title-winning seasons of 2012 and 2014.
His position at the Etihad looked uncertain when Guardiola was confirmed as Pellegrini’s successor in February.
But the former Barcelona and Bayern manager has been quick to assure Kidd he remains an important figure at the club.
Goalkeeping coach Xavier Mancisidor is also staying on.
Guardiola has visited Manchester twice in the past two weeks to run the rule over the Etihad and the club’s academy.
He had two members of his backroom team with him and met with Kidd, director of football Txiki Begiristain and other staff.
He also held talks with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in Abu Dhabi as City press ahead with his plans in his first summer at the club.
Mourinho is still putting together his coaching team at United after being appointed Louis van Gaal’s successor.
Ryan Giggs’ future is uncertain following the arrival of Mourinho.
And it is easy to see why Kidd would have been a popular appointment as a nod to United's heritage.
But City - and Guardiola in particular - were determined to keep him as part of their set up.
Khaldoon confirmed: “Brian Kidd will continue to be part of our team.
“Brian is an essential part of our organisation and I’m delighted that he will continue.
“Pep has been explicit in his need for him to stay part of his team.
“Also Xavier, our goalkeeper coach, will continue and with these two we have continuity we have two important individuals within the backroom staff at the club that will continue with our team.”
