The Dorados manager believes Manchester United's boss is the best in the world, even above his cross-town rival
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is a better manager than Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola, according to Diego Maradona.
Guardiola led City to the Premier League title last season and has his team flying again this campaign, while Mourinho's United are struggling, beaten in the derby on Sunday.
However, Maradona feels former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter boss Mourinho is the world's best coach, and believes Guardiola's style works because of the buying power he's had backing him throughout his career.
"For me yes, Mou is the best," he told Marca .
"I would give Pep the merit of taking advantage of the launch that Johan Cruyff gave him.
"I have said on more than one occasion that tiki-taka was not invented by Guardiola. It was 'Flaco' Cruyff.
"At the moment Pep is able to choose any player in the world that he wants. That way tiki-taka is easier."
Maradona, now in charge of Mexican second-tier side Dorados , said he still had room to improve as a coach.
Asked if he would be interested in coaching in Spain, the 1986 World Cup winner said only a "long-term project" would interest him, but first he wants to go to Manchester to learn from Mourinho.
"Myself as a coach I need to learn a lot and for that reason I think I will go to Manchester and Mourinho to ask him a lot of things," the Argentina great said.
"Because he is the best without doubt."
Despite backing Mourinho as the better manager, Maradona does admit that Guardiola's City side are likely favourites to win the Premier League again and praised the Spanish boss for his understanding of the game.
"Yes they could win it," he said. "Before I spoke about Pep and it is clear that he is a coach that understands games better than a lot that think they know it and then lose 3-0."
Guardiola and City hold a two-point lead over Liverpool in the Premier League table, while Mourinho's side sit eighth in the league table, 12 points back of first.
Luca craig
302
well everyone knows maradona talks nonsense.he is a great player but he still talks nonsense
TempleK
259
I didn't need Maradona to say that before I know who is a better Coach. When you listen to players that both managers have coached in the past you would know why Mou is better. Pep is still yet to prove he can win things with limited budget especially in Europe. People forget that Mou won Laliga with record breaking stats while Pep was at Barca. People also forget that it was Mou who knock Barca out en route to the Champions league win with Inter. People forget that Barca was not an average team when Pep took over neither Bayern nor Man city were. Mou took Chelsea job when Chelsea was no where in England and Europe and same can be said of Real Madrid because Ramos has never played the Champions league Semi final prior to Mourinho arrival. People must keep sentiments aside and analyse this issue with clear mind. I love to watch Pep's team play their easy flowing and beautiful game anf I also love to watch Jose Mourinho's team nulify the attacking traits of their opponents and hit them on counter and I love to watch Mou make changes that end up changing the result of games. Mou is older than Pep and has been in management a little more and has more trophies till date. So give him that respect.
Henryrukis
229
now.... weed is at work again. comparing mourinho to the untouchable Is like comaparing lukaku to Drogba. or comparing Eden Hazard to Messi. what a shame on Diego. a man of his calibre should not be speaking like this.
Football-Manager
188
Pep is a great manager. But Jose is a best manager in the world. This argument will go on for sometime but for me it’s the history. Pep will never take a challenging job. Where as Jose has done and been successful at all. Peps records, Barcelona, Bayern and Man City. Clubs there were already the top clubs and needed someone to spend more money to keep them there. Jose has achieved some unthinkable things that no other manager can. Look at what he did for Porto. Look at his record at Internazionale? And we shouldn’t forget he got Real Madrid going again. Barcelona has Spain locked till Jose arrived. His achievements at Chelsea. We had the EPL locked till Jose turned up at Chelsea. I have no doubt he will come good for us. And for the first time, I’m in agreement with Maradona
halamadrid786
140
I cant tell who is the better coach because both have took so many teams to glory. However what Mourinho has done is very hard to do. He won the ucl with porto and inter. Gaurdiola did win it but with Barca and Bayren the good teams. Even though its tough competition I would go for Mourinho. Before anyone comes at me saying "if he's so good why doesn't he win ucl with man u". I have an answer. Not every managers tactics work with every club and thats were the manager has 2 options: 1) Change the tactics or 2) Change the team to fit the tactics. However Mourinho is very stubborn he just wants to play defensive while Man u is an attacking team. He also doesn't change the team to be defensive. He bought players like pogba. Lukaku, and fred who are attacking beasts. This is the reason for his failure.
Forchmizzi
133
Okay now, let's settle this issue. People were saying that it's because of the influence of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi that made Pep great. Ok fine. Since he left Barca how much have they spent on transfers?. Barca right now is very clueless loosing to small teams ever than before. He is now in England doing wonders and people are saying that is because of the money. Ok tell me how much did Barca spend on Coutinho, Dembele. And how much did Man City spend on Sané Sterling, Bernardo. And who are the people performing better? It's definitely Man City. When last did Barca have a clean sheet in the league? After spending so much on transfers they can't win Betis at their home. Trust me if Pep were to be with this squad they would have been unstoppable. Ok now talking about Man Utd how much did they spend on Lukaku? And what's his performance with the club. They bought Fred and Dalot and they are busy warning the bench playing dead players like Fellaini. Let's not deny this all Man Utd fans will be happy to hear that Pep will be their coach because they know he'll bring back their glory days. In fact some mad fans will throw parties because they know that Manchester is turning blew slowly. Let any Man Utd fan comment that they won't be happy let's see. Mou is a good coach but not up to the standard of Pep. Pep's game is beautiful to watch. Where as Mou is just to park the truck and counter.
DwightJules
123
he's on it again
DoggyDog-oDawg
11
I didn't need Maradona to say that before I know who is a better Coach. When you listen to players that both managers have coached in the past you would know why Mou is better. Pep is still yet to prove he can win things with limited budget especially in Europe. People forget that Mou won Laliga with record breaking stats while Pep was at Barca. People also forget that it was Mou who knock Barca out en route to the Champions league win with Inter. People forget that Barca was not an average team when Pep took over neither Bayern nor Man city were. Mou took Chelsea job when Chelsea was no where in England and Europe and same can be said of Real Madrid because Ramos has never played the Champions league Semi final prior to Mourinho arrival. People must keep sentiments aside and analyse this issue with clear mind. I love to watch Pep's team play their easy flowing and beautiful game anf I also love to watch Jose Mourinho's team nulify the attacking traits of their opponents and hit them on counter and I love to watch Mou make changes that end up changing the result of games. Mou is older than Pep and has been in management a little more and has more trophies till date. So give him that respect.
Mou can make an average team great and pep makes a great team incredible. That’s the difference.