Barcelona legend, Carles Puyol, has named Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola as among the greatest coaches of all time.
Puyol was one of the constant features in the playing XI during Guardiola’s stint at Camp Nou between 2008 and 2012.
The former centre-back played a key role in all the success Barcelona enjoyed during those years, including their two UEFA Champions League triumphs.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League final against Inter Milan on Saturday night, Puyol heaped praises on Guardiola.
Puyol told Laureus Spirit of Sport (as quoted by Reuters): “I (played) with Pep for two years and to be honest, you could already see these leadership qualities in him in all sorts of ways.
“The way he spoke, his commitment to the club, and you could already see him as a coach. For me, if not the best, he’s certainly among the top two or three coaches of all time.”
He added, “Even having a coach like Van Gaal, who I love very much, sometimes Pep would even move us around as a defender. He’d switch us into a back three, a back four at times.
“I clearly remember one game against Atletico Madrid and I was stunned at how he could be playing and still visualise the best way to defend.”
