Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola agrees with Sam Allardyce’s claims to be as good as himself.
In a final attempt to avoid relegation, Leeds United have appointed the 68-year old English manager with just four Premier League games left, after sacking previous manager Javi Garcia on Wednesday.
The newly appointed Leeds manager, who has lost all four previous meetings with Guardiola, will have another chance to prove his worth against Pep this coming Saturday when his relegation-threatened team travels to title contender Manchester City.
Sam Allardyce's first task as Leeds manager is to stop Erling Haaland at the Etihad 😅 pic.twitter.com/SWWOUDjhtW
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 3, 2023
After taking over on Wednesday, the English manager made a very bold claim, comparing himself with the top Premier League managers. Allardyce said: “There’s nobody ahead of me in football terms — not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta”.
"Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta…" ❌
Sam Allardyce says there is no manager ahead of him in terms of football knowledge and experience.pic.twitter.com/hQoGJ4u20H
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 3, 2023
Pep Guardiola believes Sam Allardyce is correct in his claims
In a post-game press conference after City’s 3-0 win against West Ham United, Pep Guardiola was asked about his opinion on Allardyce’s claims, to which he responded affirmatively.
“He is right. I want to be honest. Now look what happened with, for example, Neil Warnock in Huddersfield,” said Guardiola to the reporters present at the conference.”
“Look at the managers, Roy Hodgson for Crystal Palace, what they have done. They are really good, they have incredible experience, they know the game perfectly and if he feels that, it is because of this,” he further added.
Guardiola then praised Allardyce and said that the 68-year-old would know the way to avoid relegation. “He has the charisma, he will put out the pressure to the players and he knows exactly what to do in this kind of situation in a relegation battle.
The Manchester City boss then claimed that age is not a factor in becoming a successful manager. “I could not experience what Harry Redknapp has done in this country. There are many, many English managers that have done really, really well. You don’t have to be young to be a good manager. As much experience you have, you are good.”
🗣️ "Sam Allardyce is 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧." ✅
Pep Guardiola agrees that Big Sam is up there with himself, Jurgen Klopp, and Mikel Arteta pic.twitter.com/3nzKmlmVjH
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 4, 2023
Sam Allardyce’s Leeds United will be facing Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Tottenham Hotspur after traveling to Manchester City on Saturday. They are currently in the relegation zone only due to goal difference, and Leeds fans can only hope Sam Allardyce will be able to turn things around in order to remain in the Premier League.
