Safe to say Slovan Bratislava manager Vladimir Weiss holds Pep Guardiola in very high esteem.
With the Serbian club set to host Premier League giants Manchester City, Weiss wasn't shy about how he viewed the opposition manager.
“I would compare Pep to Antoni Gaudi," Weiss declared in his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday's game. "He’s been building something nobody could understand. He is a genius, just like when Gaudi had his idea for a cathedral and now he’s achieved what he wanted to do.”
The compliments didn't stop there, as Weiss made it clear that he holds Guardiola above the other great managers of this era.
"I love [Carlo] Ancelotti and [Jurgen] Klopp, but Pep has changed football with his attitude and creativity and stubbornness — in a good way. I’ll wake up tomorrow and it will be reality."
The comparison to famed Catalan architect and designer Gaudi drew a humorous response from Guardiola himself when informed of the comment.
A stunned Guardiola looked around in shock before quipping, "no glass of wine [for] my colleague right before that?"
The Slovan Bratislava manager holds Pep Guardiola in very high regard 🤩#UCL #BBCFootball
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 1, 2024
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After collecting himself, Guardiola produced a humbled response. "I've been at a fantastic club with some top players, but...From Catalonia, Gaudi was...my god, maybe the greatest, or one of the greatest. So what can I say? Thank you so much for the compliment."
Famed for his design and art in the late 1800's, Antoni Gaudi is thought of as one the greatest architects ever. He is best known for his restoration of the Mallorca Cathedral as well as original designs such as Casa Vicens in Barcelona and Park Guell, one of many works Gaudi did for Eusebi Guell, a wealthy Catalan benefactor.
