Julian Nagelsmann has revealed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola played his RB Leipzig a visit, before their trip to Old Trafford. The Leipzig manager has developed a close relationship with Guardiola over the years, often asking him for advice.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola visited RB Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann before Man Utd clash (Image: GETTY)
But that mauling only came after some words from one of his managerial idols in Guardiola.
“I always want to treat everyone equally,” Nagelsmann told Bild (via Sport Witness). “But of course, it’s different when you meet a colleague for the first time than when you see each other for the sixth time in the Bundesliga,” he said.
“Five or six years ago I followed Simeone or Mourinho on TV and saw them win titles.
“When they stand next to me, I look forward to these meetings. I try to learn from how they treat you.
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Nagelsmann has admitted he has relied on Guardiola's advice several times (Image: GETTY)
“I think it’s noble when coaches are above things. A lot can happen during the games. But I am impressed by the Grand Seigneur category, who are always friendly and honestly mean praise and consolation. Pep Guardiola has this charisma.
“When we played against Manchester United [in Manchester], he came up to us on his day off to say hello. That is very appreciative.”
It isn’t the first time the former Hoffenheim coach has reached out to Pep, as he outlined earlier this year.
“Pep is the only one who I can sometimes ask about the content of how he sees something," Nagelsmann said in February.
Leipzig were thrashed 5-0 by United at Old Trafford (Image: GETTY)
“I don’t call Pep to ask what to do against Bayern. I send him some of our game scenes as a video on my cell phone and tell him my solution. Then he answers honestly and we discuss.
“You find that very rarely, and it is worth a lot. Especially with Pep, because he aggressively does so many things differently than it would be solved in the traditional way."
However, despite idolising the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, Nagelsmann did challenge him to take over a smaller club to see how he would fare.
He added: “There are successful coaches and less successful ones. Choosing the best is just as difficult as choosing the world’s best football player. The coaches have different philosophies.
“It would be interesting to see how successful Pep would be with Hoffenheim or me with Manchester City. In principle, what speaks for Pep in the question are the titles that he won.”