Leeds United could soon benefit from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City if they were to appoint Daniel Farke at Elland Road. The German head coach has an unlikely close friendship with the treble winning head coach.
Farke's Norwich City side attracted plenty of plaudits for the way they played, winning the Championship title twice, with Guardiola among those supporters. The Whites have reportedly made Farke one of their main targets for the vacant managerial role and they could soon benefit from a close-knit relationship with the City boss.
"Of course, Pep is one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best," Farke told Sky Sports. "You know how much I also like his approach, his style, and how he influences the game. He's fantastic and a big inspiration to so many people in this business.
"He is always ahead of the wave. He has played with a false nine when no one was speaking about a false nine. He was dominating possession when everyone was speaking about pressing. He played with full-backs in the middle of the park when no one would even be able to think about this.
Read more: How Leeds United could line up against Cardiff City with Diallo linked and expected exits
"So he was always a big inspiration to many, many coaches and many people in this business and for that he's a world-class coach. We have a really good and close relationship.
"I know he follows Norwich City quite closely and he spoke about how much he really likes us. If one of the best coaches in the world likes what you're doing at the football club, it's good for us.
"I think he's a fantastic coach and a fantastic person and it's great that we have a good relationship."
Guardiola has also given Farke a glowing endorsement after admitting his Norwich City side were one of the only Premier League sides he watches for fun.
“It depends how many days I have between games,” the City boss told the Manchester Evening News when asked about his friendship with Farke. “Yesterday (Thursday) on the flight back with the players (from Budapest) I started to watch West Ham on the plane.
"In the night, prepare the training session for today and a meeting with the players tomorrow - we do it as short as possible, don't talk much. When we have more time I take my day off. I saw a little bit of Arsenal and Benfica (in the Europa League on Thursday night), second half. I was curious to watch the game.
“And yeah, I have a good relation with the Norwich manager, so if they play I like to watch them."
"There are relations where you have more feelings than the others," Guardiola added. "Not in managers, in life. The two or three times we met each other… he is German. I worked there.
"I like his courage. The proposal is always so attractive. I like it. I am very pleased they came back after being relegated.
"The support he had from the club and now they have extended the contract for many years. That means they feel comfortable together. That’s all."
