David Villa lauded Pep Guardiola as having changed the face of football - and backed him to win the Champions League at Manchester City.
The 36-year-old played under Guardiola at Barcelona, lifting the Champions League by beating Manchester United at Wembley back in 2011.
Villa, now at City's sister club in New York, believes his former boss will be seen as a revolutionary and is altering the English game for good.
'Pep is one of the great coaches of all time in this sport and not only for his success,' Villa said.
'When you talk about coaches in history, you try to look at their success in winning trophies but Pep is more than that.
'He changed the way of soccer in Spain, in Germany and now he's changing it in Manchester. He's one of the greats - not only in terms of his success but also the things he's done in every country he's worked in.'
Guardiola has failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of Europe's biggest competition in his two years at City, but Villa thinks it's only a matter of time before the Catalan wins it again.
'I know their focus is on the Champions League and it's very difficult to have success in that,' he added.
'If there's one man who can do it in Manchester, it's Pep. because of his mentality and the way he works.
'He can do it with City and why not this year? They have a strong team, the squad will know the style of Pep.
'He found a new style of play at Barcelona. Many players came through the academy and maybe it was easier for them to know the style. But with time I'm pretty sure City can do it with Pep.'
Villa might have even been part of Guardiola's squad had different decisions been made in the past and confirmed City's interest in him.
'A few years ago - I don't remember the exact time - there was a chance (of joining),' he said.
'Ferran (Soriano, chief executive) and Txiki (Begiristain, sporting director) knew me because they'd signed me for Barcelona. I had a very good relationship with them. They tried again but it wasn't the right moment.'
BobRoyler
54
He changed the way of soccer in Spain, in Germany and now he's changing it in Manchester. lol why didn't he say England is it because England didn't win the even though he won the league
sunnysayus
42
It is the best best to start off on the right foot.Guadiola's start has only being the special thing in his career till now.He won treble with a very young Barcelona team.But his stint at Bayern Munich produced nothing spectacular because he did not win it all.In fact,he only won the trophies that were common places to the Bundesliga giant.His squad at Manchester City is the costliest squad in the whole world yet he has not gotten a better of Pellegrini's UCL record.That is not to underrate his brilliant as a coach but in truth,this Manchester city team are running at a loss.
Kucntuy
22
he 've spent so much money since he arrived in city, he can't win champions league again... Villa u should talk about king Zidane who won hattric champions league without spending....coaches should follow Zidane footsteps, football is not all about spending, the ways mou and pep lavished money every season