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Gunning for Pep

Manchester City news: Ilkay Gundogan snubs Jurgen Klopp and picks Pep Guardiola as the best manager in the world

The German international has played under both bosses but thinks his current City chief is the better

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ILKAY GUNDOGAN has snubbed former boss Jurgen Klopp by claiming Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world.

The German international played under Klopp at Borussia Dortmund where he won the Bundesliga in 2012 and reached the Champions League final a year later.

 Ilkay Gundogan has backed Pep Guardiola as the best manager in the world
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Ilkay Gundogan has backed Pep Guardiola as the best manager in the worldCredit: Getty Images
 Pep Guardiola brought Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester City
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Pep Guardiola brought Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester CityCredit: EPA

But Gundogan has picked his current boss at Manchester City as the man at the top of football management.

Gundogan said: "Both are world-class managers with their own qualities.

"It wouldn't be fair to say Jurgen is more emotional but when you see him on the sidelines living every minute, it's not hard to understand why Dortmund were so successful under him.

"Pep is equally passionate but in a different way. He is more like a genius who reads the game and covers every situation imaginable.

"He is always showing us how to create space and find solutions and there is no manager like him, which makes him probably the best in the world."

City have made a brilliant start to the season winning all five games and sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League.

And Gundogan has warned that there is still a lot more to come from the team.

Gundogan added: "We're really happy to have this quality in the squad.

"There is still potential to get better but every single game is a new one, starting from zero.

 Gundogan still praised Jurgen Klopp for his management skills
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Gundogan still praised Jurgen Klopp for his management skillsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 Pep Guardiola was delighted with Gundogan's debut
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Pep Guardiola was delighted with Gundogan's debutCredit: AP:Associated Press

"From what I've seen so far we need to be very flexible because no one will stay for 30 minutes in the same role because we are changing all the time.

"The most important thing is that we have a good build-up and that every player knows what he has to do so it doesn't matter which role the manager gives us."

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