Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, soccer’s leading coach, has lavished praise on Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou before their Premier League clash.
Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League is better for the arrival of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.
The Australian has made a huge impact since taking charge at Spurs in the summer, with the Londoners having gone unbeaten through their first 10 games while playing in a dynamic style.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lavished praise on his Spurs counterpart.
Guardiola’s treble-winning Manchester City are the next side to come up against Postecoglou’s troops when they host Spurs on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
The City manager said: “He came here and, from nothing, in few months you recognise perfectly his team.
“Even the games that they didn’t win lately, I’ve been impressed how good many, many things they do are, how many chances they create and how aggressive they are in all departments.
“Every team plays with the desire of the manager. His have done in the past, in Japan, of course in Glasgow with Celtic, and now. I think he makes football a better place.
“As a manager and a spectator, I enjoy a lot watching them play with the approach they have.
“I think all the Spurs fans and the people in England can admit that his impact has been quick and really good.”
Spurs have gone off the boil since their blistering start, losing their last three Premier League games while struggling with a catalogue of injuries.
The Spaniard, whose side are a point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, was asked if he thought Spurs might change their approach at the Etihad.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “This is not going to happen. I’d be surprised.”
Guardiola and Postecoglou have crossed paths just once before, when City faced the Australian’s former side Yokohama F Marinos in a pre-season friendly in Japan in 2019.
Guardiola said: “When we played in Japan I saw some clips before we started. I said, ‘wow, there are things that I like’.
“I said to the players we’re going to face a good team with challenges, intense build-up, intense and high pressing.
“It was the first time I met him and since then I’ve followed him and seen how good he has done in Glasgow with Celtic, winning trebles. Now, look, in a short time he is there.”
Guardiola said he enjoyed meeting with Postecoglou, even if one ritual was not adhered to in Japan.
“He took care of me really well,” he said. “He didn’t offer me a glass of wine – but it was fine!”
Tottenham have had another injury setback with Rodrigo Bentancur likely to be out for two months. (AP PHOTO)
Meanwhile, Postecoglou has more headaches to contend with, revealing midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is likely to be out of action for about two months with an ankle injury.
But he’s still looking forward to crossing swords with Guardiola.
“It’s always a challenge playing against City or any team Pep manages. You love that, you relish that, that’s the arena you want to be in, measuring yourself against the very best,” Postecoglou said.
“You’re either going to be a club that tries to knock off the big clubs or you are a big club. You are one or the other.
“My hope and my ambition for this club is to make it a big club and to do that you have to be successful and win things. To win things you have to have a plan, stick to it and believe in it.”
