Sunday 16 October 2016 07:57, UK
Everton manager Ronald Koeman claims Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are the best side he has faced as a manager.
City needed to come from behind to avoid a second straight Premier League defeat in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium but the hosts saw two penalties saved by Maarten Stekelenburg and hit the woodwork through Kevin De Bruyne.
Everton made the most of their goalkeeper's brilliance by taking the lead through Romelu Lukaku after 64 minutes but Nolito equalised eight minutes later shortly after coming off the bench.
Koeman has been in charge of nine clubs across four countries in an 18-year managerial career but he was left in no doubt about City's quality.
"They played fantastic football. They are the best team in my managerial career that I've played against," he said.
"Really high, top pressing, high tempo...we make some mistakes because the pressing was so high.
"If you look to the football, to the offensive style, the movement, the quality of the offensive players, they are in my opinion the best team in the Premier League."
Although he purred about City's play, Koeman was equally impressed with his own team's resolve, especially his goalkeeper.
"Not many teams will leave this stadium with one point," he added.
"They are a fantastic football team in every aspect of football. You need to have luck and a goalkeeper that plays the game of his life. You need a work rate within your team and I have to compliment my team, we had to fight.
"They were the better team and had more ball possession. They had the better chances and missed two penalties. But it ended 1-1, so that's a great result for us."
