Champions League final: Manchester City's Pep Guardiola the 'best coach I've seen in my lifetime' says Rio Ferdinand
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Updated 10/06/2023 at 20:28 GMT+1
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola doesn't need the Champions League trophy to be considered a great as he has already “transcended the game” according to Rio Ferdinand. In the build-up to the Champions League final against Inter Milan, Ferdinand – who enjoyed a trophy-laden career with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United – described Guardiola as the “best coach I've ever seen in my lifetime".
Guardiola hails 'special' FA Cup win but wants UCL for true City recognition
Rio Ferdinand says that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has "transcended the game" and doesn't need the Champions League trophy to be considered a great.
The former Manchester United defender was speaking in his role as a pundit on BT Sport in the build-up to Saturday evening's Champions League final between Guardiola's City and Inter Milan.
When asked whether Guardiola needs a third Champions League title to cement his place in the history of the game, Ferdinand rejected the notion.
He said: "What Pep’s doing, the style of football and how he’s transcended the game and changes the game as and when it suits him. You can’t do anything but respect greatness like that. He doesn’t even need this [Champions League] trophy but it will shut up a lot of people who are chatting a lot of rubbish about how he needs this to be considered great."
For Ferdinand, it's clear that Guardiola has already taken the top spot in the history of the game.
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Guardiola hails 'special' FA Cup win but wants UCL for true City recognition
He explained: "I don’t think he needs this. I genuinely think he is the best coach of a football team that I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. Who puts something on the pitch, lays it out and coached them to play a certain way and the whole pyramid of football tried to do it? Centre-backs standing on the corner [of the box] to receive the ball, that’s unheard of. The goalkeeper only saw their number as they ran up to the halfway line."
To make his ultimate point, Ferdinand invoked his own legendary former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
He said: "With all due respect, Carlo Ancelotti, a Champions League legend, has done ridiculous things - Sir Alex Ferguson… but the whole pyramid didn’t change from their style of football, even given how great they are. That’s his greatness and his legacy.”
With the final just minutes away, Ferdinand gave his final thoughts on the match.
He said: "Greatness awaits these players if they can get over the line. From the Man United side of town, I respect this team. I’ve said that continuously in the lead-up to this game because of the way they play a great brand of football."
Just last month, Ferdinand claimed that the 2008 Manchester United team - in which he played a crucial role - would have easily beaten Guardiola's City team.
At the time, he said: "Tough. It would be tough games. Pep's teams are hard to play against, I mean, we were annihilated by his Barcelona team. So this team with the weapons they have, with [Erling] Haaland and [Kevin] De Bruyne connecting it would be a difficult one but I think we'd win 3-1."
On June 10 and 11 strap yourself in for a live sport rollercoaster ride. With the finals of Roland-Garros, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Speedway Grand Prix, the UCI Mountain Bike World Series, the Criterium du Dauphine, MotoGP and the Champions League final, it’s the Weekend of Champions live on Eurosport, discovery+ and BT Sport.
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