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. 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,” he told Marca.
Manchester City
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Pep Guardiola is the @NWFAwards Manager of the Year
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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.
