Pep Guardiola expresses his admiration for Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City is due to travel to Elland Road to face Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United on Saturday.

Bielsa has done an excellent job at Leeds as he managed to bring the former giants back to the Premier League after a long gap of 16 years. They have started the league in a good fashion, showing intent to finish in the top half of the Premier League table in their very first season back in the top flight.

Pep Guardiola has now expressed his admiration for Marcelo Bielsa before City take on Leeds.

Guardiola said: “I think (Bielsa is) probably the person I admire the most in world football as a manager and as a person.”

“I think he is the most authentic manager all the time in terms of how he conducts his teams, he is unique.”

“Especially his behaviour as a person off the pitch.”

He further added: “My theory is the manager is not about the titles because I feel far away from his knowledge. My teams won more titles than his, but in terms of knowledge of the game, I am away from him.”

“It is a good present, a good gift to have him in the Premier League.”

Guardiola also mentioned Cryuff’s influence on him. He said: “Cruyff was the most influential (to me) because I was four years with him and when I started as a manager he was an incredible help, but Marcelo, he is the person in world football I admire the most.”

Manchester City would hope to be back in the Premier League race once again after they lost to Leicester City by 5-2 last weekend.

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