Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola’s contract extension is “good news” for the Premier League, says Liverpool manager Arne Slott.
Guardiola, who has been in charge of City since 2016, has signed a new two-year contract until 2027.
City have won six Premier League titles under Guardiola, twice holding off Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side by one point.
The Reds won the title ahead of City in 2020, with both clubs establishing one of the major rivalries in the top flight.
Slott took over from Klopp in the summer and led Liverpool to the top of the Premier League, five points behind second-placed City, after 11 games.
Asked about Guardiola’s new contract, Slott said: “Everyone wants the best manager and the best players here, so this is good news for City and for the league.”
“He’s definitely one of the best managers, probably the best manager in the league.
“He’s won four titles in a row, so it’s safe to say he’s probably the best manager in the league.
“On the other hand, they have a lot of very high-quality players, so if he had chosen to leave, I wouldn’t have expected them to finish bottom of the league next season.”
Speaking ahead of the team’s trip to Southampton on Sunday (14:00 GMT), Slott said Guardiola was “one of the greatest managers in the history of football”.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager won 18 trophies with City, including the 2023 Champions League.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler echoed Slott’s sentiments, calling it “the best thing that could have happened to the Premier League”.
“He’s one of the best coaches in the world. He always brings something new to the football scene with his ideas and it’s always a challenge to compete with him,” Hürzeler said.
“He’s always quick to adapt, always has new ideas and can always win games. We can learn from him and it’s a great experience to compete with him. I’m very happy.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe added: “He has made a huge contribution to English football. He has revolutionized the way many teams play.”
“I think he’s incredibly talented and it’s good for the English game that he’s still here.
“He’s going to continue to develop and evolve his style and people will potentially continue to follow that. From a competitive perspective, I think that will continue to keep the Premier League among the best in the world.”
