Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s contract extension is “good news” for the Premier League, says Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
Guardiola, who has managed City since 2016, has signed a new two-year contract that will run until 2027.
City have won six Premier League titles under Guardiola, twice beating Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool teams by just one point.
The Reds finished ahead of City to win the title in 2020, and the two clubs have established one of the main rivalries in the top flight.
Slot succeeded Klopp in the summer and has guided Liverpool to the top of the Premier League (five points clear of second-placed City) after 11 games.
When asked about Guardiola’s new contract, Slot said: “It’s good news for City and for the league because everyone wants the best coaches and the best players here.
“He’s definitely one of the best coaches, maybe the best coach in the league.
“He’s won four titles in a row, so it’s fair to say he’s perhaps the best manager in the league.
“On the other hand, they have so many quality players that, if he had made the decision to leave, he wouldn’t have expected them to finish bottom of the league next season.”
Slot, speaking ahead of his team’s trip to play Southampton on Sunday (1400 GMT), said Guardiola was “one of the best coaches football has ever had”.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has won 18 trophies at City, including the 2023 Champions League.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler echoed Slot’s sentiments, calling it “the best thing that can happen to the Premier League.”
Hurzeler said: “He is one of the best coaches in the world. With his ideas, he always brings something new to the football stage and it is always a challenge to compete against him.
“He always adapts quickly, always has new ideas and can always win the game. I’m very happy because we can learn from him and competing with him is a great, great experience.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said: “He has contributed a lot to English football. He has revolutionized the way many teams play.”
“I think he’s incredibly talented and it’s good for English football that he’s still here.
“He will continue to develop and evolve his style and people will potentially continue to follow him. From a competition point of view, I think it keeps the Premier League the best in the world.”
