Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has labelled Roberto De Zerbi 'one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years' ahead of their clash against Brighton.
The newly-crowned Premier League champions will come up against the Seagulls on Wednesday night as they prepare to rest and rotate players before next month's FA Cup and Champions League finals.
Guardiola, meanwhile, will come up against one of the most talked about managers in football right now; Roberto Ze Derbi.
The Spaniard is a well-known fan of the Brighton boss. In fact, in Tuesday afternoon's pre-match press conference, he was full of praise for the Italian coach and his team.
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When asked if he was impressed by the Brighton manager's performance this season, Guardiola delivered a compliment for the ages.
“Pay attention to what I’m about to say because I’m convinced in what I’m saying that [Roberto De Zerbi] is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years," he said. "There is no team that plays the way they play, it’s unique.
“Congratulations to Brighton for this incredible achievement of getting into Europe. I had the feeling that when he arrived I had an idea the impact he would have on the Premier League would be great but I couldn’t expect him to do it in such a short time.
“They create on average 20-25 chances per game. They monopolise the ball in a way that hasn't been seen for a long time. Everybody is involved - the goalkeeper is like a holding midfielder.”
On learning from Roberto De Zerbi's style of play, Guardiola added: “Brighton is a master of passing the ball to a man who is free, but also knowing when to pass the ball.
“They know how to move at the right time. They have the right tempo to pass to the man free. How aggressive they are with the ball they continued from Graham Potter because I think he installed something really good.”
A number of fans on social media went on to accuse Pep of playing mind games during the press conference.
One said: "Pep is at it again. When he praises your team know you're getting a good beating," while another wrote: "It's so obvious what Guardiola does now."
A third commented: "Don’t listen to him Roberto, it’s a trap."
A fourth added: "Pep Guardiola’s mind games is to praise opposing managers. Like a predatory lion pretending to be looking after an injured bleeding zebra."
This isn't the first time City manager Guardiola has paid such compliments to De Zerbi. Back in March, he said: "We’ve an Italian coach in Premier League, De Zerbi – he’s changing many things in English football. He’s producing wonderful football.
"People said – you can’t play the ball out from from defence in the Premier League. But he’s doing that, and incredibly well.”
Thoughts on Guardiola's comments about the Brighton boss?
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Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, Brighton And Hove Albion, Roberto De Zerbi, Premier League
Jack Kenmare