Former Liverpool and Valencia boss Rafa Benitez feels Barcelona's Pep Guardiola deserves to be named coach of the year.

Guardiola led Barca to Primera Division and Champions League glory last season and Benitez is adamant this will give him the advantage over his two rivals for the award.

"It is difficult [to choose between the three] but I do not want to evade the question. I've always said that I've favoured a more peculiar way of interpreting football, the environment and life itself which would lead me to answer Pep Guardiola," he told Mundo Deportivo.

"I think his greatest strength has been his ability to give continuity to the project. Getting to the top is not as complicated as staying there. You can win one day but to win consistently is tough."