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Not Wenger – SAF reveals the rival who left the biggest impression on him at Man United

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Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager in the history of Manchester United in the past several decades.

Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson full of praise for Pep Guardiola

Speaking to France Football (h/t Mirror), legendary Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson has laid praise on Pep Guardiola and his Barcelona team from 2011.

The Catalans were our opponents in the final of the Champions League that year at Wembley. While the 3-1 scoreline would hint at a closely fought contest, the reality was anything but.

Barcelona dominated the game and were the better team on the night. Wayne Rooney’s equalizer gave us some hope but Lionel Messi and David Villa ensured it went no further.

 Sir Alex Ferguson has laid praise on Pep Guardiola and his Barcelona team from 2011.
Manchester United were soundly beaten by Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League final

Reminiscing about the game, Ferguson went on to call the Catalans unplayable. A spectacular admission by a manager who has managed some of the best United teams in history. (h/t Mirror)

“The one that made the biggest impression on me is the Barcelona we met at Wembley, with Manchester United, in the final of the Champions League 2011. They were unplayable.”

Ferguson made the same admission in the final and was willing to acknowledge that his team had been outplayed. It would appear time has not swayed his opinion.

 “In my time as a manager, I would say they’re the best team we’ve faced.”

legendary Manchester Untied manager,  Sir Alex Ferguson has laid praise on Pep Guardiola and his Barcelona team from 2011.
Sir Alex Ferguson has laid praise on Pep Guardiola and his Barcelona team from 2011.

The greatest ever!

France Football is the organizer of the annual prize for the world’s best footballer award. Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s ceremony was cancelled and instead chose to name the best team in football history made up of players from the present and past.

It is a testament to his ability and standing in the game that Sir Alex Ferguson was named as the coach of the Ballon d’Or Dream Team. The selection included one former United star in Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sir Alex Ferguson was named as the coach of the Ballon d'Or Dream Team
Sir Alex Ferguson was named as the coach of the Ballon d’Or Dream Team (GETTY Images)

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The fact that Guardiola’s successes at Bayern Munich and Manchester City are overshadowed by his at Barcelona’s is a testament to that Catalan squad’s ability.

United have met a number of top sides under Ferguson, we will have to agree with him that the Barcelona side from 2011 was easily the best.