Midfielder Bruno Fernandes praised Pep Guardiola as the best coach in the world, influenced by Jurgen Klopp but did not mention teacher Erik ten Hag.
“We are talking about the best coach in the world, no doubt about that. Over the years, Guardiola has been the best in the world,” Fernandes told the Portuguese newspaper The ball. “Guardiola is probably the coach who has changed football the most. Nowadays everyone wants to be Guardiola, there's no need to hide it."
Previously, Guardiola praised Fernandes, saying, "When he holds the ball, you know something is about to happen." Asked about this comment, the 29-year-old midfielder said: “For me, receiving praise from a coach like Guardiola is something spectacular, because as I said, he is the best coach in the world. All teams, from the Second Division to the First Division, try to play like Man City. Everyone tries to find the motivation that Man City has, because they get good results and are successful."
Fernandes in a confrontation with Pep Guardiola's Man City. Image: AFP
In addition to Guardiola, Fernandes also praised Klopp and said that he has the same passion, intensity, dedication, and love for football as the German coach. Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, after helping the team win a complete set of titles with the Premier League championship, FA Cup, English League Cup, British Super Cup, Champions League, European Super Cup and FIFA Club. World Cup over the past eight years.
According to Fernandes, not the titles, Klopp's greatest legacy is the infusion of passion and new motivation to turn Liverpool into champions. “That is something that no one can take away from Klopp,” the Man Utd midfielder continued. “We are talking about another coach who really influenced my passion for football.”
In the interview with The ball, Fernandes did not mention his current teacher at Man Utd – Ten Hag. But a few days ago, he said the Dutch coach inspired Man Utd to come back and defeat Liverpool 4-3 in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
After the above match, Fernandes called for the abolition of the law that penalizes players who take off their shirts to celebrate a goal. In the second minute of extra time, after scoring the 4-3 victory for Man Utd, Amad Diallo ran to the corner of the field, took off his shirt to share in the joy, and was given a yellow card. That was the Ivory Coast striker's second yellow card in this match, after the first in the 116th minute. Diallo therefore had to leave the field, missing the final seconds of the match.
According to FA rules, a player must be warned, even if a goal is disallowed, for taking off his shirt or covering his head with his shirt.
Fernandes sees this as simply a player enjoying the moment of celebrating a goal with teammates and fans and wants to change this rule. “This moment has to be enjoyed and I think that's one of the rules that football has to change because you should celebrate goals. Of course there is respect for other clubs, but enjoy your moment,” the Portuguese midfielder expressed.
Man Utd captain is also happy for Diallo - the player plays for Rangers in the second half of the 2021-2022 season and then for Sunderland in the 2022-2023 season on loan. “Diallo deserved that goal. He gets rewarded because he is doing the right things,” Fernandes said. “Unfortunately, Diallo was sent off. Celebrating a goal is part of the moment and part of youth."
Diallo will be suspended for the next match against Brentford in the Premier League on March 31, but will qualify for the FA Cup semi-finals with Coventry at the end of April.
Hong Duy
