Pep Guardiola deserves to be hailed as one of the great managers, according to La Liga contemporary Jose Mourinho.
The 40-year-old Guardiola has only been a manager since 2008 and led the Catalan giants to a treble in the 2008-09 season while also claiming the league and Copa del Rey titles last season.
The current campaign is just Guardiola s third in charge of a senior team, but Real Madrid boss Mourinho was quick to quash any suggestions that his rival s inexperience if a weak point.
Pep is a great manager. It doesn t matter how many years you work for, but what you achieve is important, Mourinho said.
There are long-time coaches who nobody knows about and people don t see them as great managers.
Pep has been a manager for a short time, but what he has achieved is more than sufficient for him to be considered one of the best managers around.
Mourinho s side trail league-leading Barcelona by five points, and face a tricky trip to Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, where they must win to keep the pressure on Guardiola s side, who are away to Mallorca earlier in the day.
Last season, Real won 3-1 at Estadio Municipal de Riazor, which included a brace from Karim Benzema.
Historically it was the first victory last season (for Real away at Deportivo) for many, many years, Mourinho said.
Even this season when they aren t having a great season at home I think they ve only lost 2 matches, I think that was (to) Barcelona and Almeria. So I think they re a strong team at home and that makes it difficult for us.
