Fulham manager Scott Parker has hailed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as one of the best coaches he has ever seen ahead of their meeting this weekend.
Guardiola has led City back to the top of the Premier League this season and their defeat to Manchester United on Sunday ended a 21-game winning streak in all competitions.
The Spaniard, however, has recently downplayed his achievements and said last month he wins because he has “extraordinary players”.
Parker is in no doubt, though, about Guardiola’s managerial talents and has heaped praise on him as Fulham prepare to host City on Saturday.
“There’s some truth in that (Guardiola’s comments) but I think he’s being very modest,” he said.
“He’s an incredible coach, and you only have to look at his team and his set-up, while of course they have very, very good players and they’re privileged in that they can buy them, that team and the way they’re set up, the way they play, the way they move the ball, just everything about them, you can tell just watching them for a few minutes that this a team coached very, very well.
“That doesn’t surprise us because we’re arguably looking at one of the best coaches that I’ve seen.”
“You can’t (switch off against City), their quality all over the pitch in terms of structure, their positional play…they’re a threat in every single moment of the game.
“Out of possession they’re a threat, in terms of transitions, with the ball, the way they can move the ball - I think we understand that.
“So I think we realise, or certainly I do, the animal we’re playing against here, that from the the first moment...that focus in terms of defensive shape and that focus in those moments is going to be very key.”
