New Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has claimed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic regards Pep Guardiola as the best coach that he has ever worked with, despite the striker's public bashings of the Spaniard.
Ibrahimovic, who played under Guardiola for two years at Barcelona, was critical of the 45-year-old in his autobiography, which was released in 2013.
The Sweden international has made no secret of his dislike for Guardiola, but Gundogan has claimed that Ibrahimovic regards his former boss as the best, even though he will be playing under Jose Mourinho for a second spell after joining Manchester United.
"Even the players who don't like him rate him and the best example is Ibrahimovic," Goal.com quotes Gundogan as saying.
"I read in his book that he doesn't like him, but he says he is the best coach he ever worked with. This is really special to read, but he is being honest.
"It is the same thing I heard from the players at Bayern Munich. They told me the same - that he can improve everyone. That is what is possible."
Guardiola was officially unveiled as Man City's new manager at the weekend, while Mourinho will hold his first press conference as United boss today.
Danielle Joynson
