PEP GUARDIOLA has come out fighting for Antonio Conte and insists the under-fire Chelsea boss has brought something special to English football.
Conte is clinging on to his job at Stamford Bridge less than a year after winning the Premier League title for Roman Abramovich’s club.
Defeat by leaders Manchester City on Sunday would be a hammer blow to Chelsea’s hopes of a top-four finish and effectively seal Conte’s fate.
But City chief Guardiola is in no mood to twist the knife on his rival and said: “I never understand it when one manager criticises another.
“We are all alone in this business when the situation is not good and I would like to protect the other managers whenever that is possible.
“Of course I want to beat them when I play them, just as much as they want to beat me. That is normal.
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“But last season I had the pressure of people asking, ‘What is this guy doing?’ and now it is happening to other managers.
“Maybe people don’t appreciate what Antonio Conte has done here in England.
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“He introduced a new way to attack in the Premier League with five at the back, another system which a lot of other teams have imitated.
“Tactically he is a master. He did it amazingly with the Italian national team and when he went to Juventus. And when Conte leaves English football, I am sure he will have given it something special.”
Guardiola’s former Barcelona team-mate Luis Enrique has been heavily backed to replace Conte at Chelsea this summer.
And Pep added: “Luis Enrique is one of the best, best, best managers. He is a friend of mine and I know him very well.
“But Antonio Conte is manager of Chelsea and I don’t want to talk about anyone else doing that job.
“If you had told me in the summer that we would be 22 points ahead of Chelsea, of course I would have been surprised.
“But we have a big lead over all the clubs. Chelsea, Tottenham, United and Liverpool could all get to 80 points this season so we have done really well to get so far ahead.
“Conte did an amazing job last season and people ask what we have done at Manchester City to make such a difference this time. The answer is not too much.
“Of course we bought a lot of players and they have helped us a lot. Next summer will be cheaper because we buy only one or two.
“But if you want to compete at a highest level of competitions, you need the good players.
“In the last five years we are the only team in England to play every season in the Champions League.
“I am delighted with what we have done so far this season and it is a joy to be manager of these players.
“But you have to keep the players focused to feel that they can always do better.
“We cannot start to believe that we are perfect. You always have to let them know that we are not good enough.”
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