Pep Guardiola heaps praise on Bielsa

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Marcelo Bielsa ahead of their Premier League meeting this coming weekend.

City face Bielsa's Leeds United as they continue to close in on reclaiming their Premier League title from Liverpool, but Guardiola knows it won't be easy against Bielsa's side, as he continued their reciprocated public adoration.

"His teams are one team before his arrival and [another] when he is there," Guardiola said at his press conference on Friday. "His teams are always better. You see his influence. He doesn't need much time to realise his own team.

"These are alpha teams, they belong absolutely to him and for world football, it is a joy. A guy who respects the opponent, who plays for the fans, for the spectators, who just wants to play for a victory home or away and convinces the players to follow him the way he is being followed.

"That's why I recognise the best because people say that he doesn't win titles but give him Manchester City and he will win titles. It depends on the players you have, but always the players they have, they are always better players. That is the best proof of when a manager is good."

Bielsa had previously described Guardiola as being "magical" earlier in the week, which Guardiola said left him feeling "overwhelmed".