Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has declared the Premier League the best in the world.

Pellegrini was in charge of Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga while in Spain.

But he told El Mercurio: "The best football in the world is played in Spain but the Premier League is by far the best league in the world. The governing bodies are stronger, the level of competition more even, matches are played to the death, with real intensity, the atmosphere is better, with packed stadiums...

"But Spanish football is the best, you just have to look at who wins the European tournaments."