Real Madrid vs Man City: Zinedine Zidane hails Pep Guardiola before Champions League tie

The big Champions League meeting on Wednesday night sees Real Madrid host Manchester City in their round-of-16 first leg, where two of the most successful modern managers will go head to head for the first time.

Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola were rivals on the pitch in their playing days with Real and Barcelona, but this will be a first meeting for the pair in the dugout.

The Premier League team are among the favourites to win the European crown this season, while Real won three successive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018.

Both teams have habitually spent big in the pursuit of domestic and Continental success, but both have also looked to their inspirational head coaches to gain an advantage over rivals.

Despite having won more European titles – three to Guardiola’s two – Zidane feels Guardiola who is the best in the game.

Zidane feels Guardiola has “proved” that he is the best in the world with all three of his clubs so far, but rather than being fearful of coming up against a master tactician he says it is a source of inspiration.

“First with Barcelona, then with Munich, now with Man City. That’s my opinion. Some people can think other coaches are better but for me, he is the best.

“Obviously we are inspired by what he’s done. That motivates us even more. We’re not afraid of playing against Guardiola or his teams.”

Before taking over as boss at Real, Zidane spent time monitoring Guardiola’s approach and tactics, particularly with regard to man management – and was left impressed.

“I’ve mentioned before that I’ve spent a few days with him when he was at Bayern, talking about training, how to manage a team, and he was quite honest, quite open, and I learned a lot talking with him.”

Real Madrid sit second in LaLiga and have won only one of their last four games in all competitions, having previously been on a run of eight successive victories.

City are also second in England’s top flight, but the gap between themselves and Liverpool in first is 22 points, compared to just two points between Real and Barcelona.

Last season in Europe, a meeting between Zidane and Guardiola was possible at the semi-final stage, but Real lost in the last 16 to Ajax and City were knocked out by Spurs in the quarters.

A much-anticipated meeting of minds between the two should provide plenty of entertainment and talking points on the pitch, but the respect between them is already evident off it.