Fernandes: 'Everyone wants to be Guardiola'

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes praised Pep Guardiola as the best coach in the world, influenced by Jurgen Klopp but did not mention his teacher Erik ten Hag.

"We are talking about the best coach in the world, there is no doubt about that. In recent years, Guardiola has been the best in the world," Fernandes told Portuguese newspaper A Bola . "Guardiola is probably the coach who has changed football the most. Nowadays everyone wants to be Guardiola, there is no need to hide that."

Guardiola has previously praised Fernandes, saying: "When he has the ball, you know something is going to happen." Asked about the comment, the 29-year-old midfielder said: "For me, to receive praise from a manager like Guardiola is something spectacular, because as I said, he is the best manager 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 have, because they get good results and are successful."

Fernandes in a match against Pep Guardiola's Man City. Photo: AFP — Fernandes in a match against Pep Guardiola's Man City. Photo: *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 collection of titles with the Premier League title, FA Cup, English League Cup, English Community Shield, Champions League, European Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup over the past eight years.

According to Fernandes, Klopp's greatest legacy, rather than trophies, is the infusion of passion and drive to turn Liverpool into champions. "That's something no one can take away from Klopp," the Man Utd midfielder continued. "We're talking about another coach who really influenced my passion for football."

In an interview with A Bola , Fernandes did not mention his current coach at Man Utd - Ten Hag. But a few days ago, he said the Dutch coach inspired Man Utd to beat Liverpool 4-3 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

After the match, Fernandes called for the abolition of the card rule for players who take off their shirts to celebrate goals. In the second minute of extra time, after scoring the winning goal for Man Utd 4-3, Amad Diallo ran to the corner of the field, took off his shirt to celebrate and was given a yellow card. That was the Ivorian striker's second yellow card of the match, after the first in the 116th minute. Diallo therefore had to leave the field, missing the final seconds of the match.

Under FA rules, a player must be cautioned, even if a goal is disallowed, for removing his shirt or covering his head with it.

Fernandes sees it as simply a player enjoying the moment of celebrating a goal with his teammates and fans and wants to change this rule. "This moment has to be enjoyed and I think it's one of the rules that football has to change because you should celebrate a goal. Of course, with respect to other clubs, but enjoy your moment," the Portuguese midfielder said.

The Man Utd captain was also happy for Diallo - who has played for Rangers for the second half of the 2021-2022 season and Sunderland for the 2022-2023 season on loan. "Diallo deserved that goal. He got the reward for doing the right things," Fernandes said. "Unfortunately, Diallo got sent off. Celebrating goals is part of the moment and part of being young."

Diallo will be suspended for the next Premier League game against Brentford on March 31, but will be eligible for the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at the end of April.

Hong Duy

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