Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher dropped their verdicts on whether or not Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could eclipse Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson in the ‘GOAT debate.’
Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired from management in 2013, is widely considered one of the best managers of all time after his impact in both England and Scotland.
The legendary former Manchester United manager enjoyed incredible success in Scotland, including leading Aberdeen to a European Cup Winners’ Cup title.
Following his time with Aberdeen, Ferguson continued his success in England after he arrived at Old Trafford and took charge of Premier League side United.
The 82-year-old Scotsman led United to 13 Premier League titles, as well as two Champions League trophies, before he bowed out of Old Trafford in 2013.
Ferguson was also the first manager to lead an English team to a continental treble, a feat that Manchester City would complete last season under Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola, much like Ferguson, has been widely hailed for his influence on football and is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the history of the sport.
The 53-year-old Spaniard had a sensational impact during his time at Barcelona, which included three La Liga title wins and two Champions League trophies.
Neville talks Guardiola vs Ferguson GOAT debate
Following his legendary spell at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola went on to manage Bayern Munich and lifted three consecutive Bundesliga titles and two German Cups.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss arrived at Manchester City in 2016 and has dominated English football since his time at the Etihad.
Guardiola has lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League, two FA Cups and four League Cups with Manchester United’s crosstown rivals.
City became the first English men’s team in history to win a domestic treble under Guardiola, who is currently under contract with the club until 2025.
Guardiola was the first manager in Premier League history to secure 100 points in a single season, with City’s ‘Centurions’ achieving the feat in the 2017-18 campaign.
Speaking on The Overlap, Gary Neville insisted that Sir Alex Ferguson will still be ahead of Guardiola in the GOAT debate even after the City boss has left the Etihad.
“I mean, look to be fair, Pep’s unbelievable,” he said.
“So, we’re arguing here about something that’s hypothetical, but I just think what Sir Alex Ferguson did for British football and the Premier League I don’t think can be surpassed.”
Neville added: “But he also did it for Aberdeen up in Scotland. I just think for that period of time. It was in the birth years of the Premier League, I think that the football that was played, the electricity, the character and personality.”
Carragher on Guardiola vs Ferguson GOAT debate
Despite putting his backing behind Ferguson, Neville admitted that Guardiola would be considered ahead of the United legend on a measurement scale outside of the Premier League.
“Can I just say in world football, when you talk globally, I think people will say Pep Guardiola,” he explained.
“And you think about what he achieved in Spain, in Germany, but in the Premier League alone […].”
Carragher, much like Neville, pointed to Ferguson’s achievement with Aberdeen as the major factor in separating him from Guardiola in the GOAT debate.
“You know what? There’s one thing that Pep has never done and he will never do because of the nature of the clubs he’s in, he’s never won with an underdog,” he said.
“Whereas Ferguson and even like a [Jose] Mourinho and [Jurgen] Klopp maybe at Dortmund, Pep’s just always had the biggest teams, hasn’t he?”