One picture, three leaders: Enrique, Mourinho, Guardiola
The info is known worldwide. The image has been seen before. But what is new is that this picture, captured by SPORT photographer Joan Monfort in 1998, now shows the three managers that are all top of their respective leagues. Each with their own style.
Luis Enrique
Barcelona's coach has introduced various chances to the standard way the club have played in the past few years. More direct and with less build-up work, more counter-attacking than dominating in the opposition's half. These are the nuances to Enrique's game that has left his side top of the league, with four pointss between them and Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho's Chelsea are close to lifitng the Premier League title. Seven points ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand, and with no other competitions to distract them, it's hard to see this one slipping away. Mourinho's teams always have the same brand, and are extremely competitive.
Pep Guardiola
The former Barcelona boss has been at Bayern Munich for a season and a half, and bar the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, it has been an almost perfect time. The leader in Germany by some distance, they have the title in their hands. He had the difficult task of improving the Bayern side that won the triple with Jupp Heynkes, and continues to work on this challenge.
P.S.
And although he's not captured in that picture, former Barcelona player Laurent Blanc is currently in charge of Paris Saint Germain... who are top of Ligue 1.
