Former Manchester United and Everton defender Phil Neville believes Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has forced the other top bosses in the Premier League to take their game to the next level to compete with him.

After ending his first season at Manchester City without a trophy to show for his efforts, Guardiola spent big money in the summer to overhaul his squad and his team have looked the part at the start of the season.




By demolishing Liverpool last month at home and an eye catching win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend, Manchester City have displayed their title credentials and Neville admits that he is a big fan of the former Barcelona boss.

The former defender admits that Guardiola is just not content with winning games and sets his team up to score goals in each game.
 


And Neville feels Guardiola’s arrival in England has also forced managers such as Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho to up their game in order to compete in the Premier League.  

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The former Red said on the Premier League TV’s Premier League Today programme: “I have watched and studied his teams over the last few seasons and he sets his team up to score three or four goals every game.

“He likes to dominate the opposition, outnumber the opposition in midfield, he likes to win the ball in the final third and push eight, nine players in the final third.

“He takes risks and gambles to win games and when it is tight he wants to score two or three more goals.

“He has been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League because what I think he has done is challenge the Klopps, the Pochettinos and the Jose Mourinhos to up their games as well.

“That what you get when you get the best in the world to come to your league, it improves the rest around you.”

Guardiola’s side are level on points with Manchester United, but are at the top of the Premier League table due to a superior goal difference.