Lennon, a midfielder who went on to become a manager himself, is a big admirer of Guardiola as a boss.
After winning two League Cups for Leicester, Lennon joined Celtic before eventually plying his trade in the dugout at Celtic Park, where he won ten Scottish Premier League titles, eight Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups cumulatively as a player and boss.
He loves how Guardiola has brought innovative ideas into the game but not at the expense of what really matters - winning!
He said: “Pep is one of the greatest managers of all-time – if not the greatest!
“Whenever his Barcelona team were on the TV, you just couldn’t help but watch them. They were mesmerising.
“I got to manage against them the year after Pep left when his assistant Tito Vilanova was in charge. Everything that Pep had put in place was still there.
“That 2010/11 team was the best club side I’ve ever seen. However, when you look at what he did at Munich and what he’s doing now at City, the bar has been raised so high over the last few years.
“There have been challenges from Liverpool and now Arsenal domestically but Pep just seems to find a way. There’s a method to what he’s doing and how he’s doing it and the players are on board.
“He’s tough as teak, too. People don’t realise that about him. He’s a huge character and he has to manage huge personalities but you never hear any stories of unrest. He can be tough when he wants to be and I love that about him.
“And the way he plays the game, he brings in innovative ideas. Look at the inverted full-back, for example, where John Stones goes and plays in midfield.
“He’s reinventing a way of playing which I’m sure a lot of other teams will plagiarise in the next few years.
“That’s what he does – he’s a trendsetter.
“But, not only that, he wins. That’s the bottom line – he wins. He wins with a style that everyone can’t help but be complimentary about.”
Lennon, who began his career at Manchester City, believes the club are more than capable of winning the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League this season.
And, like many before him, he thinks Erling Haaland is a valuable asset in that hunt for honours.
On the treble bid, he continued: “They have a great chance.
“The sympathy I have with Pep is that when you are still going for all these competitions it can be quite fatiguing. Not only for the players mentally and physically but also for the coach. He’s going to need all the support staff he has around him.
“I think for Pep the holy grail is the Champions League. I’d love to see City win it. They’ve been knocking on the door for so many years.
“I think Erling Haaland could maybe be the missing piece of the jigsaw. He’s been a great signing. He can score goals even if the team aren’t playing well or are under the cosh.
“I’m not saying it’s City’s time because you can never predict but I think they have as good a chance as any year.
“I think the Premier League is going to be fascinating. I think the Premier League will be tough.
“Arsenal, mentally, have proven themselves to be worthy challengers. But they lost to City. They lost to Everton. They drew with Brentford. Saying that, they have bounced back with a lot of wins again.
“It’s all going to come down, probably, to that game at the Etihad – and what comes after that.
“And, in terms of the FA Cup, I have no doubts that they can win that.”
Lennon will be our guest in the Matchday Live studio this weekend as he analyses the game alongside Paul Dickov and Joleon Lescott.
He admits he’s relishing the opportunity to see his two former clubs battling it out.
He added: “My old club are going through the wringer at the minute.
“I think Brendan Rodgers did a magnificent job but the last 18 months were difficult, not only with having to sell players but also I also don’t think they spent a penny in the summer.
“That’s really unusual for a Premier League team.
“It’s going to be difficult for Leicester. The last few defeats have been very damaging. Bournemouth was a big one for them.
“Now coming to the Etihad, it’s such a daunting task for any team but the position they are in and the run they have been on, it’s going to be very difficult.
“In terms of being at the game, I am thrilled that Man City have asked me. I am really looking forward to it. It’s going to be an honour.”
