Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola pays Marcelo Bielsa ultimate compliment ahead of Leeds United clash

Guardiola has frequently hailed Bielsa since the Argentinian's move into English football at Leeds with the City boss going to see the former Argentina manager at his home in South America in 2006 as Guardiola looked to launch his own managerial career.

Fourteen years later, having secured 29 trophies, Guardiola is one of the most successful managers in the game with the 49-year-old having won eight league titles with either Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Manchester City as well as two Champions League crowns with Barcelona in addition to another 19 cups with his three clubs in management.

Bielsa, meanwhile, has previously alluded to the fact in previous Whites press conferences that he has not won much as a manager even though the Argentinian secured three league titles in his native homeland with Newell's Old Boys and Velez Sarsfield and also steered his country to 2004 Olympics gold.

In any case, Guardiola says his own overall knowledge does not compare to his 65-year-old counterpart's with the City boss paying Bielsa the ultimate compliment ahead of Saturday evening's Premier League showdown at Elland Road.

"I think (Bielsa is) probably the person I admire the most in world football as a manager and as a person," said Guardiola at his pre-match press conference.

"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.

"(Johan) 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.

"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."

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Thank you Laura Collins