Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte might be the best coach in the world at the moment.
Conte will take his Chelsea team - who lead the Premier League standings by one point - to play Guardiola's City side at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon, with both teams looking for a victory that would help each team strengthen their position at the top of the table.
Chelsea arrive the more in-form side, with Conte having implemented a tactical change in September that has led to seven straight wins in the Premier League for the Blues.
The game will also be the first time that Conte and Guardiola - both of whom are in their debut seasons in England - will face each other as opposition coaches.
And ahead of City's clash with Chelsea, Guardiola has admitted that Conte is one of the best, if not the best, managers in the world because of his early work at Chelsea this season and, indeed, his hugely successful time coaching Juventus.
"Conte is without doubt one of the best, maybe the best, coach in the world right now. [Chelsea] were contenders to win the Premier League from the beginning," Guardiola said.
"Now, maybe more than before. It's a good test for us; it is the first time we are going to face each other. It's good to play against him.
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"He did an exceptional job in Turin [with Juventus] and in the national team job. It doesn't matter if it is Serie A or the national team, you realise his strengths.
"He has started with maybe not good results, but they have won their last seven games, conceding one goal. That says a lot about how good they are."
