Four years ago, Pep Guardiola claimed incoming Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa was the 'best coach in the world'.
Throughout their careers, Guardiola has constantly showered the Argentine with praise for his help and guidance in the early stages of his managerial career - especially when he questioned making the transition into management.
In 2006, the Catalan travelled over 5000 miles to speak to Bielsa in Buenos Aires. He wanted to discuss becoming a manager, his ideas and the pressure it brings with someone he had admired for so many years. It was a conversation that convinced him to try his hand in the world of management and the rest, as they say, is history.
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Fast forward 16 years and Guardiola is one of the most decorated managers in the game, winning 32 trophies and playing some of the best football ever seen. He owes a lot to Bielsa, but even now he's not in England, he could turn to him for one more bit of advice.
Earlier this week, Manchester City confirmed the £51million signing of Erling Haaland and have since moved on to other targets to bolster their already star-studded squad. Replacing Fernandinho at the base of midfield is seemingly the next order of business, and Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips is the man most heavily linked with a switch to the Etihad.
Since helping Leeds with their return to England's top flight, Phillips has become one of the standout midfielders in the country, earning a regular spot in Gareth Southgate's national team set-up. It's not just City who have noticed his talent, with Manchester United also credited with an interest in recent months.
Leeds narrowly survived the drop last season courtesy of a 2-1 win over Brentford on the final day, but there is a firm belief that Phillips can compete with the very best. Similarly to Jack Grealish, he is at a stage in his career where he needs to decide where his ambitions lie.
Before Bielsa's sacking, Phillips was the main man in the Argentine's midfield. His incredible energy and hard work in central midfield were a nightmare to deal with, but his technical ability has come on immensely with improvements on the training ground and he now has all the attributes to become a Guardiola midfielder.
Given the former Leeds boss was one of Guardiola's idols, there may well have been conversations between the two about whether Phillips has what it takes to fit in at City. The Premier League champions do need reinforcements in that area and Phillips could be a very suitable answer.
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