What Sir Alex Ferguson predicted about Man City when that appointed Pep Guardiola is gradually coming to pass
Pep Guardiola looks on. Inset, Sir Alex Ferguson.
In total, Pep Guardiola has now been in charge of Manchester City for 516 matches, going well beyond his stays at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Before he arrived at Man City, Guardiola had a reputation for being one of the world’s best ever coaches, but he was also considered someone who wouldn’t stay at any one club for too long.
Fast forward nine years and Guardiola is still in charge at the Etihad, even if he’s perhaps now facing the most challenging period of his time in Manchester to date.
After 28 games played in the Premier League, City are currently in fifth place – very unfamiliar territory for a manager who has won the English top flight six times already.
Sir Alex Ferguson thought Pep Guardiola would struggle to repeat Barcelona success
That being said, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who is also regarded as one of the best coaches of all time, made an interesting prediction about Guardiola when he first became City boss.
Ferguson had retired three years prior to the Spaniard’s arrival in the Premier League, a manager he clearly held in very high regard.
Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
However, when speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Ferguson didn’t think that Guardiola would be able to repeat the level of his success at Barcelona with City in England.
Ferguson said: “Without question Pep has got a fantastic work ethic about him, he demands that from all of his training sessions.
“Anyone who thinks they’re not going to work hard at City won’t last long. He has got great coaching ability, there is no doubt about that.
“Man City have made a real coup in getting him but Pep won’t find it easy, English football is not easy.
“Every foreign coach that has come to England will tell you that. Arsene Wenger was talking about that a few months after coming and even Jose Mourinho was.
“Pep will be a success but I don’t think he’ll ever replicate what he did at Barcelona because that was a high standard – they were the best.”
Comparing Guardiola’s success at Man City and Barcelona
Whilst it’s quite difficult to compare Guardiola’s time at City and Barcelona, the Spaniard did have a slightly better points per match record with the Catalan side.
If it’s assumed that cup games are also awarded with three points for the ease of comparison, Guardiola’s time at City doesn’t quite match up to his numbers at Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
Club Matches Points Per Match
Barcelona 247 2.36
Bayern Munich 161 2.41
Man City 516 2.28
Guardiola’s points per match record at all of the club’s he’s managed to date (via Transfermarkt)
In terms of trophies, Guardiola has won six league titles with City, whereas he won three with Barcelona – but as demonstrated, he has spent a lot longer managing in England.
The Spaniard also won two Champions League medals with Barcelona whereas his first triumph in the competition came in 2023 with City.
It’s difficult to compare, and perhaps some will argue that Guardiola’s work is even more impressive in England considering he didn’t have Lionel Messi at his disposal.
But the manager’s time with Barcelona is probably still the most successful of his career to date.
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