Argentine World Cup-winning boss Cesar Luis Menotti has voiced his admiration of Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and has stated that the coach is the main reason behind the club's success in recent years.
Barca have collected three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies among a host of other silverware since Guardiola took over in 2008, and Menotti, who enjoyed a brief spell in charge at Camp Nou in 1984, feels that the former midfielder deserves the majority of the praise.
"It has been proven that Guardiola is more important than the players. Of course, he always says that's not the case, but what else can he do? You can't claim you are the best," Menotti said to El Pais.
"Just have a look at the players. Where was Pique before Guardiola? Or Pedro? Busquets? Those players have become phenomenons under Guardiola's guidance. There's obviously a bit of luck involved, but it's madness to say that Guardiola is only successful because of his players."
Menotti then went on to compare Guardiola with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and believes that the Catalan, unlike his Portuguese colleague, is unique.
"They are very similar conceptually. However, there was a huge difference between them when it mattered most on the pitch. There are many coaches like Mourinho, but nobody is like Guardiola."
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