Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claimed that one Manchester United legend “had everything” in his arsenal after dropping the biggest compliment on him to date.
Pep Guardiola has spoken highly of the rich history of Manchester United in the past, including legendary former Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 53-year-old Spaniard was a big admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson and was even tipped to replace the Scotsman at Old Trafford after his retirement in 2013.
Guardiola, who has often been placed in the GOAT debate alongside Ferguson, locked horns with the former United manager during his time at Barcelona.
The Manchester City boss walked away with the ultimate bragging rights over Ferguson on two separate occasions in the Champions League.
Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona sides of the past beat Ferguson’s United teams in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome and the 2011 final at Wembley.
The Barcelona legend, who has overseen incredible success at City, is a big fan of one legendary former United player who was at the heart of Ferguson’s teams.
Guardiola’s tribute to Man Utd legend
Pep Guardiola sat down for a chat with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand and was asked for his verdict on one of football’s most debated topics.
Rio Ferdinand, who had a prolific spell at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson, wasted no time in asking Guardiola about former United teammate Paul Scholes.
Paul Scholes spent his entire career at Old Trafford – across two separate spells – and enjoyed incredible success under former United manager Ferguson.
The 49-year-old United legend is widely considered one of the best midfielders of all time alongside Chelsea hero Frank Lampard and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
But the Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard debate has been deeply divisive at times and the footballing world, from managers to players, has been split on who is the best.
Guardiola insisted that Scholes was the best midfielder out of the three, despite paying his “respect” to former England midfielders Lampard and Gerrard.
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss added that ex-England international Scholes “had everything” and was his personal “favourite” out of the three.
“Ah, who’s the best? All respect to Frank [Lampard], to Steven [Gerrard], but Paul Scholes is my favourite one,” Guardiola told Ferdinand’s YouTube channel in 2022.
“I love it. I think he had everything but the other two, come on, Frank and Steven Gerrard changed this. Paul Scholes is my favourite.”
Scholes thinks highly of Guardiola
Scholes, who retired from football for the second – and last – time in 2013, has been an active figure in punditry after his legendary playing career at United.
The former England international has spoken highly of Guardiola’s impact in the Premier League in the post-Ferguson era in English football.
The United legend even admitted that he would be keen for City boss Guardiola to become England manager in the future due to his sensational style of play.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca in 2017, Scholes said: “I hope he becomes England coach one day and bring us his style.”