Owen Hargreaves takes Pep Guardiola praise to new level after Man City Champions League success

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Owen Hargreaves believes Manchester City's Champions League triumph proves Pep Guardiola is the most creative manager ever. City ended their long wait for European glory last season, beating Inter Milan 1-0 on their way to a historic treble.

Guardiola was celebrated for his tactical innovations on the way to a memorable trophy haul. His decision to play four centre-backs, moving John Stones into midfield in-possession, allowed City to remain water-tight defensively whilst maintaining their attacking flair.

Hargreaves believes those tweaks prove Guardiola is the most tactically astute manager to play the game. “Pep’s the greatest innovative coach I think we’ve ever seen almost in any sport," Hargreaves told talkSPORT. "The reason they won the Champions League was maybe their downfall before, the fact that they’re a little bit open, they play this beautiful football. READ MORE: Josko Gvardiol fee is another reward for Man City transfer policy "Every time they got knocked out, they were the better team.

Whether it was Monaco, whether it was Tottenham, whether it was Real Madrid, they were the better team. But football at that level is one moment, that’s it. "And I think Pep found a way to minimise those moments last season by playing a back four.