Guardiola can look at new Ferguson example after matching icon's treble feat

11 June 2023 , 13:20

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Guardiola can look at new Ferguson example after matching icon's treble feat

It was a nice gesture from Sir Alex Ferguson to send a message to Pep Guardiola ahead of the Champions League final in Istanbul.

As Guardiola said he was “touched”, it was, presumably, a message of encouragement.

When the giddiness and euphoria of Manchester City’s treble subsides a little - but the debate about the greatest manager to operate in the English game continues - Ferguson might be tempted to ping Pep another note.

Mischievously, Sir Alex might want to remind the City manager that, after winning his treble in the 1998-99 season, he went on to claim eight further Premier League titles, one more Champions League, another FA Cup, three League Cups and a Club World Cup.

Now that is what is known as going again.

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The thought that Guardiola might believe his Manchester mission would be completed by a Champions League win and that he might then walk away has long been dismissed.

Pep goes again.

And there are many people out there who think City will once more sweep all before them next season.

By ‘all’, we mean ‘all’, because don’t believe, for one minute, that the Club World Cup will not be a major part of Guardiola’s attention later this year.

But Guardiola does have challenges to face, Guardiola does have an in-tray of issues to deal with.

Pep Guardiola picked up City's first ever Champions League title (Getty Images)

There are obvious uncertainties over personnel, the most glaring one being the likelihood of Ilkay Gundogan leaving for a different environment, a different experience.

The German midfielder’s value to Guardiola’s systems has been spectacularly highlighted in City’s run-in to their trophy sweep.

Unlike his coach, Gundogan, 32, will probably think his work IS done at the Etihad and who could blame him if he wanted to sample life at another big club, in another big city.

And although he has two years left on his contract, there is every chance Bernardo Silva could follow Gundogan out of the door.

You can read too much into body language at emotional times but the interaction between Bernardo and Guardiola after the triumph in the Ataturk Stadium certainly suggested a possible parting of the ways.

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Then, there is the Kalvin Phillips situation to deal with, and the club will have to find a buyer for Joao Cancelo.

And the perennial task Guardiola has to perform is to try and keep everyone highly motivated even though they are frustrated by their game-time.

Aymeric Laporte is the prime example but Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez could come into that category.

But, of course, Guardiola has proved himself a dab hand at that particular trick and there is no reason to think that will change.

There is also no reason to believe Guardiola will not be as motivated as he has always been.

There was a wonderful post-game moment when Guardiola walked past the European Cup ahead of the presentation and winked at it as though it was some sort of old pal.

Sir Alex Ferguson won two Champions League trophies with Man Utd (EMPICS Sport)

It was an old friends’ reunion that Pep won’t want to be a one-off.

And don’t think the numbers do not matter to Guardiola, who is now only one behind the great Bob Paisley in terms of major trophies won with an English club.

Guardiola’s 12 is still 14 shy of Ferguson’s total but he has only had seven years at it (Paisley had nine) compared to the 26 years of Sir Alex’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Pep will not be at the Etihad for another 19 years, I think we can assume that.

So it is unlikely he will be adding another 14 trophies to his City CV, post-treble, as Fergie did.

But will he go again, even more driven than ever, as Fergie did?

You can bank on that.

Andy Dunn