Tributes have poured in across the football world and the City boss added his by saying the City legend was an important part of the Club’s history.
Francis became a fans’ favourite during a glorious eight-year spell as a player that saw him make 330 appearances and score 148 goals as he helped City win the First Division title, FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and two Charity Shields.
As well as being leading member of a legendary generation between the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was also the club Chairman in 1994, spending four years in charge.
“He’s a part of what we are,” Guardiola said at his press conference ahead of our Champions League game with RB Leipzig.
“It looks like the reality of the day to day only exists for the people who are here.
“But we’re here for the people like Franny Lee, Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell, who were a part of a generation that created a part of this organisation, this club.
“On behalf of the team, the statement on behalf of the club, for his wife and all the family - a huge hug.”
Players and staff held a minute’s silence before training at the CFA following the heartbreaking news of his passing.
City were then set to fly to Leipzig but bad weather in Germany meant the schedule had to be pushed back with the team now arriving later.
“It’s no problem,” Guardiola said. “The problem is to fly safe and land safe. It’s important, we have to do it at 9pm it’s no problem.
“The authorities said it was so risky to fly before, that’s why we made the training session longer and the lunch longer, we have time to rest and now we have time to fly to Germany.”
It will be the third time that City have faced Leipzig in the past three years after knocking them out in the last-16 last season as we went on to win the Champions League.
But while winning the second leg 7-0, we have not won either of our games in the Red Bull Arena.
“We drew 1-1 there,” Guardiola added. “It’s another game and another competition where it’s a really good game for our side.
“We had an incredible run at home last season, we had in our bones we wanted to do it and try to reach the final again, from the first minute we felt it.
“Now it’s the group stage is complete different, we’re playing Leipzig too, how intense they are, how difficult with RB manager Marco Rose always doing really good things.
“They attack the space with a lot of people in the middle, so we try to go there, it’s a huge step for us.
“If we are able to get a good result we’ll make a huge step to qualify for the next round.”
