Pep Guardiola insists he is not the best manager in the world and has credited his success to the talented players he has managed throughout his career.
The 49-year-old is the most successful manager currently plying his trade in the Premier League, with 29 career honours to his name.
But Guardiola has admitted that he would not have been able to replicate the success he has achieved in England if it was not for the quality of players he currently has.
When asked whether he is the best coach in football, Guardiola said, via Sky Sports: “I was.”
He continued: ‘Listen, what is the best coach in the world? I never felt I was the best, never in my life.’
“When I won six titles in a row at Barcelona, and won trebles, I never felt that. I won because I had extraordinary players in the big clubs.
“There are incredible managers, they don’t have these players, they don’t have these big clubs. Give me a team that is not like Manchester City, I am not going to win.”
Guardiola has been treated to some world-class talent in his Manchester City squad, which include City’s record goalscorer Sergio Aguero, Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and creative fulcrum David Silva.
Since arriving in the blue half of Manchester in 2016, Guardiola has won two Premier League titles, accumulating 198 points for the club in the last couple of seasons.
Alongside this success in England’s top-flight, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss also helped City to the domestic treble last season by winning the League Cup and FA Cup in 2019.
However, the defence of City’s domestic crowns is proving to be a little trickier for Guardiola this season, as the club sit 22 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League.
They are, however, in the League Cup final for the third successive year under Guardiola, while they face a trip to Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup Fifth Round next month.
A trophy that has eluded the Spaniard at City is the Champions League, having been knocked out by AS Monaco, Liverpool and Tottenham in his three European campaigns since joining the Etihad Stadium.
The 49-year-old begins his quest for the Champions League trophy, which he won twice as Barcelona manager in 2009 and 2011, with a last — 16 tie, with a mouth — watering tie against Real Madrid later this month.
