Guardiola lifts the lid on his special bond with Sir Alex Ferguson

Pep Guardiola: Sir Alex Ferguson's favoured successor at Manchester United

Pep Guardiola: Sir Alex Ferguson's favoured successor at Manchester United

Pep Guardiola has labelled Sir Alex Ferguson “an extraordinary person” after lifting the lid on his meetings with the Manchester United legend in New York.

City pulled off an enormous coup when they managed to lure Guardiola – regarded as one of the world’s best managers – to the club in the summer of 2016 as his time at Bayern Munich drew to a close.

Guardiola and his side made history last season as they became the first Premier League side to claim a 100-point haul in a season, while their defence has also started impressively with City collecting 23 points from 27 available so far.

And while Guardiola has helped City to put United in the shade, the Catalan will always have huge respect for Ferguson and his achievements in the game.

Ferguson, then coming to the end of his reign at Old Trafford, dined with Guardiola in New York in 2012.

The 47-year-old told BBC Radio 5Live: “I met him more as a person, it was fantastic. It is a joy to meet extraordinary people.”

Ferguson underwent emergency brain surgery earlier this year, but is now recovering well and has been back to Old Trafford.

“When I saw him with the crowd clapping – how they loved him, he deserved it,” said Guardiola. “I’m so glad he’s coming back and going well.”

Guardiola was speaking in a wide-ranging interview which will be aired in full on 5 Live on Thursday evening – which also discloses how his wife and kids were caught up in the Manchester terror attacks last year.

He also discussed his love of music, his favourite songs, his childhood, his influences, his sabbatical in New York, his respect for Johan Cruyff and why he could never manage another club in the Premier League.

 

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