Arsene Wenger denies Pep Guardiola has raised the bar ahead of Arsenal v Manchester City Carabao Cup final

Arsene Wenger has denied Pep Guardiola has raised the managerial bar for excellence ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

The Frenchman will lead his side into their fourth domestic cup final in four years as Arsenal prepare to take on the Premier League’s runaway leaders.

Guardiola has masterminded a spectacular campaign with City currently leading their closest challengers by 16 points and are certain of a place in the Champions League quarter final, playing some spectacular football in the process.

Asked if the 48-year-old had changed football, Wenger replied: ‘No. Why?’

When Wenger was then asked if Guardiola had set a new standard over the past decade with his teams he has managed, the Gunners boss instead pointed to the way in which Europe’s richest clubs are able to stockpile the best talent.

‘No, because you look at Barcelona and they are still the best team in Europe,’ said Wenger.

‘I think you have to accept that the modern game has changed with the recruitment of the best players in a very small number of clubs and we, as managers, can maybe impart our philosophy.

‘But this game belongs to the players because the importance of the players has become bigger than ever before.’

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METRO

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