Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui has praised both Manchester City and Pep Guardiola ahead of their meeting in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Spanish outfit have suffered a difficult start to their season, having failed to win a single game so far. They currently lie 16th in La Liga and come into this game on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Barcelona.
City meanwhile have enjoyed a contrasting start to the campaign. The Blues sit second in the table just a point behind league leaders Arsenal.
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Guardiola's team have not lost so far in the domestic season but failed to hold onto a 1-0 lead at Aston Villa on Saturday. Despite this, Lopetegui was full of praise for City ahead of the clash in the Champions League on Tuesday.
When asked on his thoughts on Guardiola, Lopetegui replied: "I believe that [he is the best in the world], yes. It is hard to say but, from my perspective, in a very complex world, I feel he has been consistent and continued to grow in all his teams.
"The City coming here are a rival of a very high level – one of the best in the world." Sevilla lost Diego Carlos and Jules Kounde to Villa and Barca respectively in the summer and Lopetegui believes that this has had an impact on the club's poor start to the season.
"It is easier to manage everything after a victory but in defeat I believe the team has shown strength," he added. "In these circumstances, the team has shown capabilities of overcoming big rivals in moments, with the feeling of wanting to grow in adversity.
"I want to highlight that in the team. If you rip out a lung and a heart (Carlos and Kounde), you have to try to regenerate again and compete."
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