Pep Guardiola calls Roberto De Zerbi ‘one of the most INFLUENTIAL managers of the last 20 years’ after launching Brighton in Europe – and says the in-form Seagulls are like a ‘unique Michelin star restaurant’
Pep Guardiola has described Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as “one of the most influential managers of the past 20 years”.
The Manchester City manager takes their new champions to the Amex Stadium on Wednesday to take on De Zerbi’s overachieving Seagulls, who he says are “the best in the world” in one aspect of the game.
City won their fifth Premier League title in six years at the weekend and now have league games against Brighton and Brentford ahead of an FA Cup final against Manchester United and the Champions League final with Inter Milan.
But Guardiola paid tribute to the Brighton manager, who took his team into European football for the first time.
They are already assured of Europa League football and the best league finish in their history, and Guardiola has paid tribute to the work the Italian has done on the south coast.
Roberto De Zerbi led Brighton to a historic sixth place in the Premier League
Pep Guardiola has described De Zerbi as ‘one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years’
“Congratulations on this incredible achievement in the Europa League,” said the City manager.
“I think Roberto is one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years.
“There’s no team that plays the way they play – unique. I had a feeling he would have an impact and it would be great – but I didn’t expect them to in this short time period.
“Twenty or 25 chances they hog the ball like they haven’t had in a long time, a keeper like a holding midfielder, if you don’t play at a high level he can do whatever he wants against you.
Newly crowned Manchester City will face the in-form Seagulls at the Amex on Wednesday
“They deserve success and it’s a team I’m trying to learn from. (They’re like a) Michelin-starred restaurant, unique.
“In Catalonia the best cook has changed the kitchen, and Brighton are playing with something special and it’s an incredible challenge.”
When asked what they do that makes them so special, Guardiola said: “(The) time to make decisions. Brighton are masters when it comes to moving on to the freemen – they are the best in the world at it.
‘The good tempo and the free men. Their aggression with the ball is the same as (it was under former manager Graham) Potter, and the way they do the process and use the keeper, when to pass the ball, they are the best.
