As Guardiola prepares to depart Manchester City following his final match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Challinor expressed an intention to send him a congratulatory message once the play-off pressure subsides.
"[Guardiola] coming into this country has filtered down right through the pyramid.
You wouldn't have seen teams playing out from the back in non-league football, or playing in a way that his teams have," Challinor said.
Challinor acknowledged that while he knows where the Manchester City boss stays, he has generally avoided initiating unnecessary contact out of personal habit.
"I've stayed at City Suites a few times and know where he is, but no, I haven't and that's probably down to me just because of the way I am," said Challinor.
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Despite encouragement from peers to reach out more frequently, Challinor remains focused on the immediate task at hand at Wembley.
"I speak to lots of people and they'll constantly tell me to make up an excuse to give him a call, to try and get another conversation.
Most certainly I'll message him, whether he gets it or replies, I'm not too sure," Challinor said.
A Massive Opportunity for Stockport
The impending match represents a massive milestone for Stockport County, given the financial and competitive turbulence the fanbase endured prior to Stott's takeover.
"It's a massive opportunity but it is another game," said Challinor.
The manager recognized that the high stakes and potential promotion elevate the significance of the fixture far beyond a standard league encounter.
