![1_20241021_085637_0000](https://soccerweb.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1_20241021_085637_0000-678x381.png)
Pep Guardiola has finally weighed in on the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate between himself and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
When fans discuss the greatest football managers, certain names consistently surface. Alongside Guardiola and Ferguson, figures like Jose Mourinho, Bob Paisley, Carlo Ancelotti, and Jurgen Klopp are often mentioned.
Guardiola has claimed 12 league titles across three countriesāSpain with Barcelona, Germany with Bayern Munich, and England with Manchester City. Ferguson, however, holds a record 13 Premier League titles during his 26-year tenure at Manchester United, in addition to three Scottish League titles with Aberdeen.
On the European stage, Guardiola has three Champions League titles to his nameātwo with Barcelona and one with Manchester City during their 2023 treble-winning campaign. Notably, his Barcelona team defeated Fergusonās Manchester United in two Champions League finals within three years.
Despite this, Guardiola has expressed great respect for the 82-year-old Ferguson, who was recently released from his ambassadorial role at Manchester United to the disappointment of many fans.
“In this country [England] and all around the world, Sir Alex Ferguson is the best,” Guardiola said during a press conference on Saturday. “For the longevity, for the ability to rebuild teams, for the trophies won.
“Being compared to one of the greatest managers of all time is more than enough for me. It’s an incredible honor for me, my staff, and all the players I’ve worked with. When people say ‘Pep is one of the best’, it’s because of the quality of the players and assistants I’ve had. That’s enough for me. I don’t need anything else.
“For United fans, Sir Alex will always be the greatestāand that’s completely fine. I’m not saying I’m a bad manager; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been successful for this long. But whether I’m considered the best or not doesnāt matter to me.”
Guardiola also credited other top managers, such as Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho, for pushing him to become a better manager, and he added that his current rival, Mikel Arteta, is doing the same. He recalled how Ferguson once admired him for his achievements at Barcelona, even asking Guardiola to inform him before accepting another job offer. However, Guardiola ultimately joined Bayern Munich in 2013 without doing so.
Leave a Reply