Sir Alex Ferguson was the ultimate Boss. Everybody wanted to emulate his Manchester United team, including us at Liverpool.
He had a presence and aura, confidence and authority which completely transferred through to his players. It was always a challenge to match their levels.
Fergie’s biggest strength was motivating these great players to stay hungry all the time. Maintaining standards season after season separated United from the rest, and we also all knew about his ruthlessness.
Whether it was Paul Ince, David Beckham or Roy Keane, once the manager considered it best that they left, that’s what happened. And he just built another monster of a team at Old Trafford.
I never dreamed we’d find another manager who got close to Fergie, let alone become even more influential.
When Pep Guardiola struggled in his first season at City, I thought the intensity of English football would stop him replicating his Barcelona success. But I was wrong. He’s not only won trophies galore but impacted the whole of national game like nobody else.
Sir Alex Ferguson was the ultimate Boss and built a dynasty during his time with Man United
I was in awe of Ferguson, but I think Pep Guardiola is better given what he has achieved at City
He’s not only won trophies galore but impacted the whole of national game like nobody else
Guardiola shares Fergie’s attributes for man-management and making big decisions. He got rid of Joe Hart and Joao Cancelo and rebuilt another great team once the Vincent Kompany-David Silva-Sergio Aguero side split up.
But more than Fergie, he’s changed our sport. It’s not only other Premier League teams who build from defence, press to win it back and use tactical innovations like false nines and inverted full backs – they’re doing it in Leagues One and League Two and even at grassroots level.
For the past five years, I’ve been putting on coaching sessions and helping out at matches in Surrey youth leagues.
I’ve seen first-hand kids from 11 upwards being encouraged to express themselves by taking the ball and trying to build play.
My own football education at that age was mainly about how to win and while that should still be an important aspect, we are seeing progress thanks to Guardiola.
I was fortunate that as an apprentice at Crewe, there was more emphasis on tactics than elsewhere. But if even 10 years ago I’d seen a full back being asked to step into midfield during a youth game, I wouldn’t have believed it.
The Pep philosophy has spread to so many parts of the game.
Fans now want entertainment for their expensive ticket price. Winning with 30 per cent possession is no longer good enough because Guardiola has shown you can both play good football and win. Spurs supporters considered Jose Mourinho too pragmatic, they prefer Angeball, more forward-looking. At Leicester, Steve Cooper has just been sacked even though his team weren’t in the bottom three. The supporters felt his style was too limiting.
Guardiola shares Fergie’s attributes for making big decisions, like getting rid of Joe Hart
He also rebuilt his City team after the likes of Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero departed
Guardiola’s facing his toughest challenge, but I believe he will find a way. He always does
Other club owners want their own Pep in charge. I doubt Arsenal would have taken the risk of giving Mikel Arteta a first job in management unless he’d worked with Guardiola at City. You could say the same about Leicester, would they have gone for Enzo Maresca unless they thought some of the Pep stardust had rubbed off on him.
Nobody should lose sight of the fact that young players should still be allowed to work out decisions themselves on the pitch. It shouldn’t be forgotten that if Guardiola himself feels his team is being pressed, Ederson has permission to play a long ball to Haaland to get out of trouble. But the influence in allowing players in any position to be footballers is off the scale.
If I’m honest, I never envisaged Pep would have the impact he’s had. His record is incredible. Still only 53, he has won 12 league titles across three countries and three Champions Leagues.
In England, he’s become the only manager to reach 100 points, and the following season won a domestic clean sweep. He matched Fergie’s finest achievement, the Treble, in 2023.
Now all eyes are on Guardiola as he heads to Anfield on the back of the worst run of his career – five defeats and a draw in six games.
I’ve got a feeling it will just inspire him to do better and create something special again. I believe he’ll find a way. He always does.
