New Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has already sparked crosstown rivalry as he spoke about Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic rating Pep Guardiola as the best coach he has ever worked with. This is in stark contrast as Ibrahimovic is said to be a huge fan of his new manager Jose Mourinho, claiming he would kill for the Portuguese.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a public falling out with Pep Guardiola as they shared a sour relationship with each other in their time together at Barcelona. Pep Guardiola stopped speaking to Ibrahimovic after they fell apart. Their relationship ended when the Swedish striker flung a training-kit box at the Spaniard.
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The former Borussia Dortmund man was publicly unveiled to the Citizens fans on Saturday alongside new City signing Nolito. Ibrahimovic announced his move to Manchester City last weekend through his social media account.
Manchester United and Manchester City have been active in the market with United signing Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while City signed Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Zincheko, signaling the intent of the two new Manchester coaches in becoming the best in England.
Also read: Zlatan Ibrahimovic admits he can't wait to work with Jose Mourinho again
Owing to the rivalry that Guardiola and Mourinho share, Gundogan claims that City have managed to get the better coach of the two. He told The Guardian: “Even the players who don't like him and the best example is Ibrahimovic.”
He added: “I read in his book that he doesn't like him. But he says he is the best coach he ever worked with. This is really special to read, but he is being honest.” He further added: "It is the same thing I heard from the players at Bayern Munich. They told me the same, that he can improve everyone. That is what is possible."
According to Gundogan, domestic trophies will come as Guardiola has a track record of winning league titles with both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, winning a combined total of 21 trophies in his time with the two football clubs.
Also read: Twitter erupts as Henrikh Mkhitaryan joins Manchester United
Manchester City made it to the semi-finals of the 2015/16 Champions League, losing 1-0 on aggregate to eventual winners Real Madrid. Guardiola’s Bayern Munich reached the semi-final stages of the competitions in each of the three seasons he was at the club, his latest being 2-2 aggregate loss to Atletico Madrid on away goals.
The German midfielder said: “It could take time, but of course it's possible.” He added: “Anything is possible. I think Pep knows what he has to do and what he has to change. That's why he is the best coach on earth for me at the moment. He will know exactly what he has to do. He will bring us to the best level we can play”
