GUARDIOLA

PEP has been hailed as the “Che Guevara of football” after revolutionising the English game with Manchester City.

He has redefined the way the game is played in the Premier League, with the Etihad side holding a 16-point lead and on the brink of clinching the title in his second season in charge.

City are also among the favourites to win the Champions League under two-time winner Guardiola and face Liverpool on Wednesday in the first leg of their all-premier League quarter-final tie.

Guardiola travelled to Buenos Aires during the international break, where he met with

Cesar Luis

Menotti, the

World Cupwinning coach with Argentina in 1978 (right) and a fellow former Barcelona manager.

And Menotti likened Guardiola’s impact on football to that of political activist Che Guevara (left), who played a key role in the Cuban Revolution and whose iconic image has become a global symbol of change. “I think Pep is the Che Guevara of football,” said Menotti. “I always said that a revolutionary wins or dies in the fight and Pep’s idea remains unwavering.

“He’s never going to change it – he wants to play well, he wants to own the space and he wants command of the ball. And he wants to handle the time, to stay ahead of the curve. “He’s a coach with a clear image and he’s been revolutionary in the fact that he’s even been copied in Italy.

“Since the success of Barcelona, the idea of the ‘libero’ and the ‘stopper’ has changed.

“That was achieved with Pep’s success with Barca, which was backed up with Bayern Munich and is now being even further enhanced with Manchester City.

“That’s why I say he’s the Che Guevara. Win or die. It’s incredible that a coach wins in Catalonia, in Spain, is champion in Germany and then wins again in England.”

Menotti, 79, revealed how Guardiola expressed his concern over the impact of the amount of games in England and the burden it puts on his players – both mentally and physically.

“Now, he’s very focused on what’s going on in England,” added Menotti. “We didn’t speak much about individual players as he’s worried about the amount of games there are, that City have to play an extra cup in England, worried about how his players will arrive to the big games coming up.

“He worries that they could be distracted for what’s to come. What it is, is that he’s in a small city and that demands more work every day.”

Menotti praised Guardiola’s ability to get his ideas across to his players and ensure that they are implemented when they play, as well as his work ethic and attention to detail.

“He’s an excellent communicator and he’s always working,” said Menotti. “He’s committed to his ideas, but also to working on the ideas. And he teaches them for hours and hours.

“The players have responded. The most important thing for a coach is to see a response through the growth of their players. And there’s Kevin De Bruyne (with Guardiola, left). He’s a machine now.

“It’s the best quality of a coach. He’s made the Belgian into an excellent player and that’s to his merit.”

Menotti, speaking to Barcelona-based publication Sport, added: “We have had a relationship for many years and we decided to get together last week.

“Every time we’re together, I see how passionate Pep is.”