Manchester City are regarded as the English team of the decade, having won all trophies imaginable.

This is largely thanks to the arrival of Spanish coach Pep Guardiola.

For the Manchester United legend, Guardiola's arrival is not just City's gain. He thinks the Spaniard immensely affected the young English players and the England national football team.

He even said Pep is the "best thing to happen in English football."

"Manchester City have raised everything," Rooney said.

"Unfortunately it is their time of dominance."

"It's not just the league but the national team too, because of some of the coaching he's given the young English players who have gone on to become senior players and spread that around."

Rooney retired in 2021. He had some battles with Guardiola in his last season with Manchester United and with his boyhood club Everton in the 2017-2018 season.

Guardiola sees English players' rise in 2019

Guardiola saw how English players are bound to get good in 2019. He specifically mentioned Phil Foden and Mason Mount, who impacted their respective clubs considerably last season.

"The way you play in England is a bit different [to Spain]," Guardiola said. "But now young players at Chelsea, Mount, for example, are quite similar. One-on-one, creating more spaces."

"England have an incredible generation for the young players, the next decade England has incredible players and it's good for the country."

He also coached John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Raheem Sterling, who became mainstays of the Three Lions.