Ronald Koeman hails Guardiola’s ‘risky’ football approach

Guardiola and Koeman, who are among the top managers in Europe, played alongside at Barcelona as a part of Johan Cruyff's famous ‘Dream Team’ that won the club's first ever European Cup in 1992.

"He was really interested in the way how we play football in Holland. I see a lot in the teams managed by Pep about Barcelona, Dutch football... I like that because that's the most difficult way to win, to play offensive football - sometimes risky - and to win titles,” the Dutchmen told a pre-match conference.

"Most of the other managers win titles but not in that football,"he added.

Speaking about their Catalonia days, Koeman said, “We are really strong friends and now it's a little more easy because he lives in Manchester and I live close. Sometimes we have time to have dinner.”