Ilkay Gundogan admits he "feels lucky" to have worked with both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp after assessing where the Manchester City and Liverpool bosses differ in playing styles.
Klopp's Liverpool visit the Etihad tonight having taken City's title away, with the two bosses claiming the last three Premier League crowns between them.
Gundogan won the Bundesliga with Klopp at Borussia Dortmund before becoming Guardiola's first signing on taking charge of City in the summer of 2016.
“I feel privileged to have worked with Jurgen but also to be with Pep now. It was such an amazing time with Klopp at Dortmund and such a successful time as well, I learnt so much from him," the 29-year-old said.
"It is still also such a great time here at Manchester City with Pep. I appreciate every training session, every moment that I can enjoy the game.
"I am grateful and thankful for both, because they taught me so much. I don’t think there is any player who has had the opportunity to work with both so I feel lucky.”
Guardiola and Klopp have always been respectful of each other during their time challenging each other in the Bundesliga and now the Premier League and the contrasts in their playing styles have always made for fascinating battles.
As one of only four players to have played under the two, Gundogan is regularly asked about how they play their game, and his answer gives an insight into the different approaches.
“That is a question that everybody asks me to be honest! Both are amazing managers, there is no doubt about that. If you are a great manager you have to have a great personality. This is something they definitely have in common," said Gundogan.
"When it comes to the game they both focus on different things. Pep is maybe more about positions, dominating the ball while Jurgen is maybe more like winning the ball and trying to score goals as quick as possible with high intensity.
"I just think they are great human beings and the football world should be grateful that we have these two personalities.”
