River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo has said Pep Guardiola 'lied' when claiming his side were better than Manchester City, as the mutual respect between the two coaches continues.
Guardiola praised Gallardo last week when reflecting on City's signing of River striker Julian Alvarez, saying the new forward is in the best place to develop under a coach like Gallardo on loan for the rest of the season.
The City boss was speaking about River once again on Wednesday when asked if his side were the best in the world at the moment, when he pointed towards Champions League holders Chelsea and the Argentine outfit as better due to their records in the big European and South American continental trophies.
He said: “We are not the best team in the world. The best is Chelsea, they won the Champions League in Europe. And River too that they won in South America… I think so. Or not? I do not remember”.
Guardiola was slightly mistaken as Palmeiras are the current Copa Libertadores holders, but Gallardo was still asked about his reference to River Plate and his claim over the best team in the world.
In response, Gallardo wouldn't disagree with Guardiola, but did claim the City boss would be lying if he didn't think the Blues were among the top three sides in world football.
He said (via La Nacion ): “I admire Pep a lot as a coach. I haven’t spoken to him and I don’t know in what context he mentioned River. Nor am I the one to contradict anyone, except the best coach in the world.
"But if he said that City are not among the best, he lied. That is fine too, he is not going to say that his team is the best. It’s in the top two or three. Not only because of their coach, but also because they play something that identifies me."
Guardiola has praised Gallardo in the past, suggesting he deserves more credit for his record in South America and that his accomplishments would be rewarded with more individual awards if he was coaching in Europe.
