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Pep Guardiola lauds Erik ten Hag as an ‘exceptional manager’.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola lauded his opposite number Erik Ten Hag before the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
The Catalan, who will face the United boss in the FA Cup final on Saturday, was glowing in his appreciation for him. The two managers are familiar with one another from their time at Bayern Munich when Guardiola oversaw the first team while Ten Hag oversaw the reserve squad.
Guardiola defeated his former teammate 6-3 in the first encounter when City defeated United in October, but Ten Hag exacted revenge when the Red Devils defeated their neighbours 2-1 in January. On Saturday, they square off in the FA Cup final for a third time.
“It’s not easy the first season in the Premier League, I know myself, so that defines a really good manager. I cannot say we are friends as we are not in touch much. But I think Man United has an exceptional manager for many, many years,” Guardiola told Friday’s press conference.
After City won the title, Ten Hag, who helped United finish third in the Premier League and has previously won the Carabao Cup, gave Guardiola great praise.
Guardiola added: “It’s the final of the FA Cup and it’s a pleasure to be here. It’s a final so nothing else. It should be good for us if we have to think about what we have to do to win one game – nothing changes to analyse the strength of our opponents and the weaknesses they have. A final is special for itself but United from the last four, five six months are a completely different team. Now I have the feeling from the beginning of the season is different and they have improved. It’s United so the qualities of players have always been here.”
Prior to taking on Inter Milan in the Champions League final on June 10, City is seeking to accomplish the double versus United in the FA Cup final.