admin Pep Guardiola could lead Manchester City to a first-ever Champions League title and a historic treble on Saturday. If Pep Guardiola wins the treble in Istanbul and then wins his fourth title, he will be emulating Sir Alex Ferguson’s performance
There will be games next season, so we need to have a serious discussion.
He’s already the best manager to have in the Premier League, but will that make him the best English football manager ever, overtaking Sir Alex Ferguson?
If he beats Inter in the Champions League final, Pep has basically won everything for Manchester City in seven years, including the Holy Grail of the European Cup.
“That’s what City want to win.” That’s why City brought Guardiola to the Etihad. That’s why they chose Erling Haaland as top scorer.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that Pep started on a much higher base than Fergie walked through the door.
City are already under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, who joined in 2016. Despite winning titles, Guardiola won nothing in his first season at the club.
“Sir Alex was the first to replace the underperforming midfield giants when he arrived at Old Trafford in 1986. His first match was a 1-1 draw against Oxford United, three and a half years ago, and in 1990 he won the FA Cup, the first of 25 mainstream trophies. Earned.
“It’s probably fair to compare Pep’s first seven years at City with the same ‘window’ at Manchester United under Ferguson, beginning in 1994/95 and ending on the final day against Blackburn. Finished missing the title and leaving the season vacant.
Their records are strikingly similar, each winning five titles, but Guardiola will repeat that feat this weekend, with the exception of United winning the treble in 1999.
“In my life, only Bob Paisley of Liverpool (6 titles, 3 European Cups, UEFA Cup between 1975 and 1983) has matched Guardiola and Ferguson in a similar period.
If City face Inter now in the group match, I would guess they would win easily and, like in the semi-final against Real Madrid, take an early lead. could be the most one-sided final since AC Milan beat Barcelona 4-0 in 1994…with Guardiola on the losing side.
“But if Inter score first, it could be a difficult night. Just like Roma and Fiorentina have done in the other two European club finals, they have been able to show off small fouls, skill, play and play. I’m worried about trying to disrupt the game with so-called “game management”.
“Two years ago, when City lost 1-0 to Chelsea at Porto, it’s hard to say that Pep made a mistake. A facial injury might have changed the outcome.
“However, his decision to keep both Rodri and Fernandinho on the bench backfired.
Ederson’s goal return aside, I would be very surprised if he didn’t start with the same squad as last weekend’s FA Cup Final.
“It will be difficult for players like Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Rico Ruiz to stay on the bench, but Guardiola seems to have picked the strongest team.
And even De Bruyne. Even if they lose again, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan are playing so well that City will be set to succeed without him.
So Manchester City won the treble in Istanbul.
After that, the only question mark is this: How many trophies will Pep win if he stays at City for 26 years, like Fergie did at United? Is not it?
If there are already 11 people on the bench, it could be dozens.
