Ilkay Gundogan says that Pep Guardiola is the best manager that he has ever played under as he enjoys his most impressive season at Manchester City.
Gundogan has flourished for City this season, scoring 11 goals in 19 league games. On the back of his form, Guardiola and the City team have rediscovered their mojo and are seemingly on their way back to securing the title.
Gundogan also worked with Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund. Klopp, of course, is Guardiola's great rival in England, having beaten City to the title last season.
But the German midfielder believes that Guardiola is the superior of the two coaches.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Gundogan was asked: "True or false, Pep Guardiola is the best manager you have ever played under?"
He replied: "True."
Gundogan was then asked to expand on his answer, touching on the similarities and differences between the two great managers.
"It’s probably easier for me to name the difference because I feel like tactically, Pep is the best I have ever seen, to be honest, and I’ve also heard [this] a lot of times from other players who have played under him. The way he is looking into all the details of the game is just incredible and he tries to transmit that on the pitch.
"But Klopp, as a character, Jurgen is someone that, when you go on the pitch, you are able to sacrifice everything for him, to give your all.
"He has that power, the way he talks to you, the way he speaks to you, to give you the right words going into a game to go onto the pitch and die for him.
"It is difficult to say which is better. For me personally, I just feel privileged to have worked with both, to have worked with Jurgen and to be now here with Pep, and that’s what I am very grateful for."
City are now sit 19 points clear of Liverpool, who have abandoned hopes of defending their title as they focus on securing a top-four finish.
Liverpool, however, have made two Champions League finals under Klopp, winning one. That competition continues to evade Guardiola ever since he departed Barcelona.
City have never won the Champions League and Guardiola has unquestionably focused intently on European success. They currently hold a 2-0 lead over Borussia Monchengladbach after a dominant last 16 first-leg performance in midweek and are the bookies' favourites to win the Champions League.
