Pep Guardiola agrees with Sam Allardyce 's claim that no one is ahead of him "in football terms," name-checking Neil Warnock as another veteran boss who deserves more respect.
Shortly after being confirmed as Leeds' new manager, tasked with four games to keep the Yorkshire side in the Premier League, Allardyce made headlines as he declard: "Far too many people think I am old and antiquated, which is so far from the truth," the short-lived former England boss began during a press conference on Wednesday.
"I may be 68 and look old but there's nobody ahead of me in football terms, not Pep, not [Jurgen] Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta, so it's all there with me. I share what they do and I do what I do but in terms of knowledge and depth of knowledge, I'm up there with them – I'm not saying I'm better than them – but certainly as good as they are."
Just a few hours later, Guardiola was sat in front of a press conference of his own following Manchester City 's crucial 3-0 win at home to West Ham which saw them return to the top of the table. Asked by Mirror Football about Allardyce's comments, the City manager revealed that he agrees with his peer and hailed Warnock, too.
"He's right, I wanna be honest" Guardiola replied. "Look what happened with Neil Warnock at Huddersfield. These [are] incredible managers. It looks like the young managers, with the tactics or whatever…
"But [the older managers] are really good, they help us be who we are, like Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace. They have incredible experience, they know the game perfectly."
Warnock has indeed done a marvellous job after coming out of retirement to steer Huddersfield towards safety in the Championship. The 74-year-old, in his 19th managerial post, has led to the Terriers to four wins from their last seven games, meaning that one point from their final two games will be enough to confirm their survival.
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As for Allardyce and Guardiola, they'll face-off this Saturday for Big Sam's first match in charge of Leeds, who sit outside of the relegation zone on goal difference. After beating West Ham, Guardiola quickly turned his focus to facing Allardyce and continued: "It will be tough. He has the charisma and will put the pressure off the players, he knows exactly what to do in these relegation battles.
"It looks like these type of old managers, now people with 35, 40, 45, 'we invent football'. No, football is already created. These guys belong to the league, help us to do it. Neil Warnock, Huddersfield was last place and now already out of the dangerous positions.
"What Harry Redknapp has done in this country. There are many English managers who have done really well, you don’t have to be young to be a good manager. As much experience you have, you are good."
A 10th successive victory in the Premier League would send City four points clear of title rivals Arsenal with the same amount of games played.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the standings, Leeds are skirting close to the drop and sit level on points with 18th-placed Nottingham Forest. Following Sunday's trip to the Etihad, Allardyce's new side play Newcastle at home, West Ham away and end the season with a home game against Tottenham. The 68-year-old replaced Javi Gracia on Wednesday, who was sacked after guiding Leeds to just three wins from 12 games.
