'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Success in football comes from a variety of modern game strategies. Whether you choose to launch the ball long or kill the opposition by keeping possession, everybody has their favourite tactical adjustments and setups, with the fans and the experts almost daily churning out new ways of winning. Surely, the job of a manager isn't easy at all. Everyone blames the manager for each and everything the team suffers from. Whether they are not scoring enough goals, not defending well or not playing good football, the one who is criticized the most is the manager.
But some managers shut the critics down and have their own way of winning the hearts of fans. Today we will talk about 5 such managers, who have been performing really well this season.
#5 Nuno Espírito Santo - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Before the beginning of the 2017/18 season, Wolves appointed Nuno as their head coach. From then on, Wolves have been going strong. He led the club to the Premier League in his first season in charge of the Molineux outfit.
Wolves have been exceptional in the Premier League this term and are fighting for a top 8 finish. The Portuguese coach has impressed everyone with his tactics and also won the Premier League manager of the month for September.
Wolves have been performing consistently well against the top teams this season. They have managed to defeat the likes of Tottenham, Leicester City, and Everton in the league. Also, they knocked out the current Premier League leaders Liverpool from the FA Cup and have managed to reach the quarter-finals of the domestic cup competition, where they will face Manchester United on 16th March.
4 Javi Gracia - Watford
Since taking over last January, the Spaniard has undertaken a quiet revolution at Watford, who are currently eighth in the Premier League table.
The Hornets, who have looked good this season, managed to beat Tottenham at home in early September. The 4-4-2 system Gracia plays has brought the best out of every player in the squad. Owing to Watford's brilliant start to the season, he also received the Premier League manager of the month award for August.
Watford's current league position is nothing short of extraordinary as they finished 14th in the Premier League last season. Gracia has been superb in terms of managing the squad and winning some vital games. It won't come as a shock if Watford qualify for the Europa League and finish in the top 7 this season.
#3 Pep Guardiola - Manchester City
The only reason the Spanish mastermind is not top of the list is because of his achievements last season. Most points, most goals, most wins, biggest goal difference, biggest gap to second - do not make the mistake of forgetting just what Guardiola achieved with Manchester City in 2017/18.
City have been brilliant this season too and are just 1 point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. Guardiola is famous for the records he made while managing Barcelona. He stamped his mark at the Camp Nou in his first campaign in charge of the club and guided the Catalan giants to UEFA Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey glory. It was the club’s first ever treble and, Guardiola, who was 37 years old then, became the youngest manager to lift the UEFA Champions League in history.
He is especially known for his 'Tiki-Taka' tactics. The beautiful game his side play attracts everyone. Guardiola, who is yet to win a Premier League manager of the month this season, however, has already guided Manchester City to the Carabao Cup.
With Manchester City also very much alive in the Champions League and the FA Cup, there is still chance of Guardiola guiding the Citizens to an unprecedented quadruple at the end of the season.
#2 Mauricio Pochettino - Tottenham Hotspur
Many will be surprised to see Pochettino in the second position in this list, but the Argentine has been remarkable this season, and his side have managed to provide considerable competition to Liverpool and Manchester City.
Despite Spurs not signing any player last summer, the north London outfit currently find themselves third in the Premier League table. With Tottenham due to shift to their new stadium soon, funds are limited at the club.
In addition, Spurs' best player Harry Kane was sidelined for more than a month with an injury earlier in the season. Despite these setbacks, Pochettino has managed to keep his team in the title picture.
Tottenham will be looking forward to finishing in the top 4 again this season and qualify for the Champions League for the fourth consecutive time. Although Pochettino has not been able to win a single trophy for Tottenham, his team have shown their capabilities time and time again.
#1 Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool
Klopp got his chance to manage in the Premier League when he took charge of Liverpool in October 2015. The German arrived at Anfield after taking a short break from football, following an impressive seven-year stint with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
Often credited with popularising the football philosophy known as Gegenpressing, Klopp is regarded by many as one of the best managers in the world.
This season his side have been amazing and are currently atop the standings, having lost just once in the Premier League thus far. In the previous seasons, Liverpool's biggest problem was their defence, but the German has managed to rectify that, with the Reds conceding just 15 goals in the Premier League this term, the lowest in the division.
Klopp, whose side are still in contention in the Champions League, will look to guide Liverpool to their maiden Premier League title. The German was named the Premier League manager of the month for December. Although his Liverpool team have been impressive, he is yet to win a trophy with the Reds.
