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Aitor Karanka has weighed into the Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho debate - insisting it was Manchester United who appointed the world’s best manager last summer.

Ahead of Middlesbrough’s FA Cup quarter final with Manchester City on Saturday, Karanka claims Mourinho has the edge on his old rival.

And the Boro manager believes Guardiola must win the Premier League title to prove he is one of the game’s greats.

Karanka - Mourinho’s former assistant at Real Madrid - said: “Pep is not the best coach in the world.

“The best coach in the world is Jose Mourinho.

“He has shown it at Porto, at Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid and Manchester United.

“He was the best (in Spain) and he still is the best.

“I’ve never worked with Pep, but Jose started this season with some criticism, but he has already won two trophies for Man United.

“Jose is the best for me.

“I think Pep has to win the Premier League to prove (he’s is one of the best).

“I think he has to win a trophy (this season).”

Guardiola admits he faces a

if his first year in English football is to be considered a success.

After Boro in the Cup, City travel to Monaco in the Champions League and then face top four rivals Liverpool next weekend.

Karanka claims Guardiola has taken time to adjust to the game in this country.

“He has shown he can win titles in Spain with Barcelona and with Bayern Munich in Germany and he probably thought he would do the same in England,” he said.

“But now I think he has realised that this is a different football, a different league, he has realised how difficult the challenge is.

“It’s difficult when you arrive in a new country, with a new philosophy, a lot of things are difficult.

“He has some very good players, but the mentality here is different, the players are different and it takes time to adjust.

“A coach’s job is never easy. The better players you have it is more difficult.

“When you have a squad like that ( City’s), it is difficult to manage.

“It is taking him some time, it is not easy for him.”