Pep Guardiola has ‘incredible respect’ for Spurs boss Antonio Conte

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he has “incredible respect” for the work of his Tottenham counterpart Antonio Conte and has stressed the importance of time and investment for managers.

Premier League leaders City on Saturday host a Tottenham side who currently lie eighth in the table and have lost their last three top-flight games.

Former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Conte, in charge at Spurs since November, earlier this week said in an interview that his squad “may have, on paper, weakened” after the January transfer window.

The Italian has also this week been quoted as saying he regards Guardiola as the best coach in the world.

Regarding that remark, Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference on Friday: “Thank you so much but I’m not – I appreciate it but I’m not.”

Then giving his thoughts on the Italian, he said: “I would say I don’t have words, for the fact that I learn a lot watching his teams as a manager, the movement and many things.

“He showed it at Juventus, (Inter) Milan, Chelsea, and if the club rely on him 100 per cent they’ll have success.

He showed it at Juventus, (Inter) Milan, Chelsea, and if the club rely on him 100 per cent they’ll have success. - Pep Guardiola on Antonio Conte

“My first season here was tough in terms of results. Every manager needs time, needs investment, needs many, many things to be there for a long time or have success, especially in this country.

“I have incredible respect for the fact that when I watch his teams I feel there is something new I can learn, and I can improve.

“He arrived (at Chelsea in 2016) and his impact was clear, many teams started to play five at the back. He won the league fantastically well. What happened after, in the second season,