Boss backed to bring PEP culture to Blues

TOM Wagner hopes Chris Davies can recreate the 'philosophy, culture and energy' Pep Guardiola has developed at Manchester City.

- By ALEX DICKEN

TOM Wagner hopes Chris Davies can recreate the 'philosophy, culture and energy' Pep Guardiola has developed at Manchester City.

Birmingham City stormed to the League One title with an EFL-record 111 points in Davies' first season in management.

The 40-year-old stepped out of the shadows of Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou to make a promising start to his managerial career after being handed the reins at Blues by Wagner last summer.

Blues hope Davies is the man to lead them back into the Premier League and, once that ambition is achieved, even loftier targets will be on the agenda.

Wagner wants to take Blues to heights they have never experienced before and rub shoulders with the elite, such as Guardiola's all-conquering City side, and the American sees similarities between Davies and the three-time Champions League-winning boss.