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Rio Ferdinand was left unamused by Robbie Savage’s claim that Pep Guardiola was the best Premier League manager he had seen, in clear implied support of the centre-back’s former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferdinand and Savage were on duty as BT Sport pundits and were commenting after Manchester City were crowned champions of England for the third time in four seasons following Manchester United‘s defeat at home by Leicester.
Guardiola – who took over at the Etihad Stadium in 2016 – has now won 10 trophies at the club, and his 11th could be arriving soon if City manage to overcome Chelsea in the Champions League final.
Rio Ferdinand (left) was left unamused by Robbie Savage (right) after he claimed that Pep Guardiola was the best Premier League manager
Pep Guardiola’s (centre right) Man City were crowned champions on Tuesday evening
Such success led Savage to heap enormous praise on Guardiola, telling BT Sport: ‘Pep improves players and that side is incredible. For me, the best manager I’ve witnessed in the Premier League.’
However Ferdinand, in support of Ferguson – who won six Premier League titles for Manchester United with the former centre-back in his ranks and 13 overall – took issue with Savage’s claim.
‘Sorry, like Chris Sutton said, you should go and get your coat for that,’ Ferdinand replied.
Savage when on to explain his viewpoint, adding: ‘Listen, the reason I’m saying that, Sir Alex is obviously the record he has. But in terms of overall, at Barcelona, at Bayern, now at Manchester City.
The Premier League title represents a 10th trophy at the Etihad Stadium for the Catalan boss
‘The way teams from the Premier League down to grassroots play like Manchester City, I’ve never seen anything like it.
‘The way he evolves teams. He’s won trophies with teams he should win trophies with, but if he wins the Champions League for Man City, for me, possibly the best ever.’
Ferdinand remained in disagreement with Savage, but was managed to deliver effusive praise of his own for the City boss.
‘You’ve got to give credit where it’s due,’ Ferdinand said. ‘Pep and his men have bounced back. He went back to the drawing board, fixed things up and they came out flying. Deserved champions.
The success he has had led Savage to describe him as the best boss he had seen since 1992
‘I love him, he’s a maverick,’ he added. ‘This season, what he’s done especially, tactically the way he’s changed his team.
‘He’s thickened up his midfield, got more bodies in, played with a false number nine, getting more bodies in the midfield to control the pace of the game, not making it a basketball game, up and down. It was more about controlling possession, strangling teams.’
Guardiola’s side have added the league title to the Carabao Cup – which they won after beating Tottenham at Wembley – and will go in pursuit of a treble on May 29.
The club gave fans a glimpse of the Premier League trophy on the Etihad pitch by posting a video of a drone making its way in and around the 55,000-capacity ground before finishing at the centre circle where the famous trophy sat on top of a podium, dressed in City blue and white.
A picture emerged of Guardiola, captain Fernandinho, chief executive Ferran Soriano and more City staff members celebrating together with a replica trophy and specially made champions T-shirts.
But that led Ferdinand to dismiss Savage’s claims, and telling him to ‘go and get your coat’
And the Catalan boss described this title win as the toughest of his career.
‘This has been a season and a Premier League title like no other,’ Guardiola said. ‘This was the hardest one. We will always remember this season for the way that we won.
‘I am so proud to be the manager here and of this group of players. They are so special. To come through this season – with all the restrictions and difficulties we’ve faced – and show the consistency we have is remarkable.
‘It is relentless. Every single day, they are there, fighting for success, trying always to be better. They have been so, so resilient.
It was a clear show of support for his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 13 league titles
‘That is equally true of each and every member of our backroom staff, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our players are fully equipped to take on the unexpected challenges and new routines throughout such a turbulent year.
‘Not forgetting, of course, all of the staff across our organisation who work to make this club the success it is.
‘Whether that’s been from the offices at the City Football Academy or working from home, the efforts of every employee in such trying circumstances have contributed to this achievement.’
City are now in the hunt for a treble after also winning the Carabao Cup at Wembley this term
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