Ronald Koeman has hailed Pep Guardiola as the best boss in the world.
The former Everton and Southampton manager reckons his old Barca pal is proving at Manchester City that it is possible to win the Premier League playing beautiful football.
Koeman said: “In my opinion there is not a better manager on the globe than Pep Guardiola.
“In 2017, Pep has got the best out of his players and out of himself. He has been absolutely phenomenal.
“If I look at what he is doing now at Manchester City, following his incredible work at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, I can only admire him and put him in the highest echelon.”
And Guardiola is ready to help England's bid for World Cup glory.
The City boss has told Gareth Southgate that his door is open if the Three Lions boss ever wants to ask about a Total Football philosophy.
Southgate is leaving no stone unturned as he looks to revolutionise the way his players approach the game – and has already called on legends including Alan Shearer, Steven Gerrard and John Barnes, as well as England rugby union coach Eddie Jones.
Guardiola would be happy to join the FA’s brains trust.
“Of course, I would be willing to help the FA,” said the City boss.
“When I was a young manager I travelled around the world to be with other managers so they could explain to me their secrets and what they think and believe.
“So of course I will help – but at the end every coach has to do what they believe.
“But don’t follow me because I have success now – that is a big mistake. When I was a young manager it was a gift to speak with managers who opened the doors to explain to me what they believed about the profession, about the locker rooms, about the tactics.”
The Spain team that won the World Cup in 2010 had a Barcelona backbone built by Guardiola. And current world champions Germany have a clutch of players who improved under the Catalan at Bayern.
Now Englishmen including Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph are reaping the rewards of working under Guardiola at the Etihad.
Yet 12 months ago, Guardiola’s methods were coming under scrutiny as City failed to keep pace with eventual champions Chelsea.
The 46-year-old is happy that attitudes towards him have changed – but he admits he has made mistakes in Manchester.
“Everyone follows the winners,” said Guardiola. “Last season when we didn’t win, people didn’t follow me. This season, now we are winning, they follow me.
“Now people say, ‘Brilliant Pep, how talented he is’. “But why didn’t I do it last season? I ask that question all the time.”