‘I’m overwhelmed, I feel weird’: Pep Guardiola stunned by praise from Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa

Guardiola has a great respect for Bielsa, who helped him during his early days in management

Pep Guardiola and Marcelo Bielsa embrace at Elland Road (Getty Images)

An overwhelmed Pep Guardiola admitted he felt "weird" after hearing Marcelo Bielsa, one of the leading inspirations of his managerial career, describe him as a "magical man".

Bielsa's Leeds visit the Etihad on Saturday with Manchester City requiring three wins from their remaining eight games to win their third Premier League title under Guardiola.

The Leeds manager is an influence on Guardiola's coaching, with the pair meeting over a barbecue at Bielsa's home in his native Argentina at the end of Guardiola's playing career.

Bielsa admitted this week that he has given up attempting to emulate Guardiola's style of play. "He's a magical man," he told DAZN.

“What he knows how to do is extremely difficult for me to try [to copy] and I’ve already given up, but I have genuine admiration for what he does."

"Interpreting the novel decisions that he incorporates into a game is already a way of falling in love with football."

Guardiola was taken aback by those words when they were put to him at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"I’m overwhelmed. I feel weird," he said. "[Bielsa] is a huge competitor, so I’m not going to try to be weak after these words because they can do whatever they want. I'm overwhelmed.

"I know because he’s the most honest person. When I was able to speak with him, I’m pretty sure what he says is what he believes.

“He doesn’t say anything or do anything for the media or for the reputation of himself, that's why I’m overwhelmed, because everyone knows the admiration and the respect, the way he helped me in my beginnings.

"He will always be there in my heart and that's why always I am... wow... I always feel I don’t deserve it.

"Because of course, if there’s one person who can search to find the secrets of the way we want to play, it's him. For his work ethic, especially for his knowledge about the game."

Leeds held City to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road back in October, in what was one of the most entertaining games of the top-flight season despite it ending with relatively few goals.

"I know how tough it will be tomorrow at 12.30 but hopefully we’ll be prepared to compete because we are three games away from being champions and tomorrow we have an opportunity to make a big step," Guardiola said.

"I am looking forward to the game of course. The players know because we faced them there in the first game and we know how difficult it was. Tomorrow will not be an exception.

"The quality of the manager and the backroom staff shows in the position of the table. Promoted last season but already safe with 42 points and still seven games left. They’ve done incredibly well all season."