Pep's respect for Sir Alex

Pep talk

"I’m too green for there to be any comparison in ethos or playing style, but you can compare Sir Alex’s philosophy with that of Barcelona, perhaps best of all with that of Johan Cruyff." - Pep Guardiola 


Sir Alex Ferguson is one of European football’s all-time greats, according to Pep Guardiola, but the Barcelona coach would like to get to know him better, he tells the UEFA Champions League final programme.

“Sadly I don’t know Sir Alex that well personally, even though we’ve met a couple of times,” says Guardiola. “I’m too green for there to be any comparison in ethos or playing style, but you can compare Sir Alex’s philosophy with that of Barcelona, perhaps best of all with that of Johan Cruyff.
“To go on winning over a long period of time, to go through two, three, four cycles of renewing a team and keep winning, that is greatness. It’s an honour to be facing him again.”
The programme also boasts an exclusive interview with the United manager himself, in which he spells out his burning desire to beat Barça at Wembley and win the club’s fourth European crown.
The boss also reflects on United’s defeat to Barcelona in the final two years ago, and relives the club’s Cup-Winners Cup success against the Catalans two decades ago.
In addition, the programme features one-on-one interviews with Javier Hernández, at the end of his amazing first season in England, and Barça defender Gerard Piqué, who recalls his time at Old Trafford and describes what it’s like to face Wayne Rooney.
There’s also a look back at the five previous Wembley finals, Pierluigi Collina’s memories of 1999 and a celebration of European Cup final supersubs, including a certain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.