GUARDIOLA IS GREATEST EVER, SAYS GUNDOGAN

BY

MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has hailed Pep Guardiola as the best manager in history.

Gundogan, the Germany international who spent four years working under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, reckons Guardiola has no equal when it comes to bringing the best out of players.

He feels the Catalan is the best there has ever been after winning 10 titles in just 13 seasons as a manager.

Gundogan, 31, said: “In terms of qualities, I have never seen anyone better than him. I probably won’t see anyone better than him.

“I just feel privileged to be able to work with him right now for the sixth year, to still learn from him, to be valued and appreciated by him. I really do believe that he was – and is – the most innovative manager football has ever seen.

“He is just incredible, what he has achieved and what he is still able to achieve. It is just an honour for me.”

Guardiola lifted three La Liga titles in four seasons as boss of Barcelona as well as two Champions Leagues.

He then won a hat-trick of Bundesligas when faced with

Klopp’s Dortmund when he moved to Bayern Munich.

And when Gundogan scored twice in a dramatic final-day win over Aston Villa in May, as City came from 2-0 down with three goals in five incredible minutes, it clinched four titles in five seasons for the Blues.

It was the German’s ‘Aguero’ moment – but he does not want to be defined by one of the most iconic moments in Premier

League history.

Gundogan said: “It probably was the best way to end the season.

“If someone would have asked me before the game, I probably would have said I will take a 2-0 or 3-0 so we are the champions! Afterwards, it was obviously way more exciting and way more memorable.

“The way it happened at the end was kind of unique, but also you needed a lot of nerves that day.

“It was not an easy day at all and afterwards you are full of relief, adrenaline and joy.

“As a football player, this is going to be something that I always remember, definitely.

“Other people will remember it for a long, long time also.

“But, of course, I don’t want to reduce my career to just that one moment.”