Pep Guardiola has explained why former Sassuolo and current Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi is ‘one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years’ after leading the Seagulls to European football for the first time in the club’s history.
The Premier League champions Manchester City are set to play against Brighton on Wednesday night in the penultimate game of the season in the English top flight and Guardiola was quick to heap the praise on De Zerbi during his pre-match interview with City’s club website.
The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach claimed that he had an inkling De Zerbi would be a popular appointment at Brighton given time, but was surprised that he was able to achieve so much so soon.
Speaking ahead of City’s trip to the Amex on Wednesday night, Guardiola said: “Congratulations to Brighton for this incredible achievement of getting into Europe. Roberto De Zerbi is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years. There is no team that plays the way they play, it’s unique.
“I had the feeling that when he arrived I had an idea the impact he would have on the Premier League would be great but I couldn’t expect him to do it in such a short time.”
Guardiola then continued by revealing that De Zerbi’s style of play and the way he sets his team up has been an inspiration for him since the Italian’s arrival in the UK.
“They create on average 20-25 chances per game,” he explained. “They monopolise the ball in a way that hasn’t been seen for a long time. Everybody is involved, the goalkeeper is like a holding midfielder.
“They completely deserve the compliments and the success that they have. It’s one of the teams that I try to learn a lot from, it’s unique.”