Messi praises ‘unique’ Guardiola as world’s best coach

Argentine star Lionel Messi praised Spanish coach Pep Guardiola, describing him as the best coach in football Manchester City The manager as a “unique” personality has “something different” that separates him from the rest.

Messi appeared in Barcelona Under Frank Rijkaard, but under Guardiola he rose to stardom as the focal point of a dominant Barcelona side that won three La Liga titles and two Champions League titles with the former captain at the helm.

Guardiola left after the 2011-2012 season, ending a four-year period in which he won 14 titles.

He followed that spell with seven titles in three seasons at Bayern Munich, although the Champions League eluded him, before going on to cement City as a dominant force in English football.

Guardiola has won 18 trophies since taking over as City coach in 2016, including six Premier League titles and the 2022-23 Champions League.

Messi: Guardiola is unique

While Messi has worked under a host of other coaches since Guardiola’s departure from Camp Nou, the current Inter Miami striker believes there is no one in world football who can match him.

Messi said: “For me, Guardiola is unique espn.

“There are very good coaches, but he has something different. For me, he is the best of them all.

“When it comes to seeing things, preparing for matches, communicating with the players, he is very integrated.

“He is the best, and we were lucky to have him at Barcelona.

“He came together with the players we had and put the right elements together to achieve what he set out to achieve, which is to achieve everything that has been achieved.”

Messi has been particularly impressed by Guardiola’s influence on English football, with teams across the Premier League and his commitment to his style of football of playing from defence.

“He went to other places and kept winning,” Messi added. “Not only because of the win but because of the way his team played.

“He did it at Bayern, even though he couldn’t win the title UEFA Champions League There, he changed the way the game was played in Germany, and the same thing in England with City, he changed the way the league was played.”