Jamie Carragher has managed to cause a huge debate on social media with his honest, and strong, verdict on the Sir Alex Ferguson vs Pep Guardiola debate.
The latter is leaving Manchester City after 10 years at the club, during which he has won six Premier League titles, one Champions League trophy, and numerous domestic cups. Despite that decade of dominance, it doesn't even come close to Ferguson's 27-year reign across Manchester, in most people's eyes.
Before Guardiola graced the Premier League, it was deemed unfathomable that anyone would even come close to usurping the iconic Scot as the division's greatest boss. However, that has all changed and Carragher actually favours Guardiola overall.
Jamie Carragher Picks Side in Ferguson vs Guardiola Debate
Jamie Carragher
Ferguson may have won an unbelievable 13 Premier League titles in his time at Old Trafford, but old rival Carragher thinks he's been 'knocked off his f'n perch'. Writing in his column for The Telegraph ahead of Guardiola's City exit, he gave a very strong opinion.
"Those placing Ferguson ahead of Guardiola baffle me. I struggle to agree with a single reason to justify that claim," he wrote. That sentence alone was enough to spark huge outrage from many football supporters, but he didn't stop there.
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The defender-turned-pundit pointed towards the two encounters the two managers had in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals. Pep's Barcelona against Fergie's United. There was only one winner. Barcelona deservedly beat the English giants on both occasions.
"Anyone suggesting otherwise is so blinkered they seem to have forgotten that when the duo faced off in the biggest club fixtures, Guardiola was the emphatic winner.
"Ferguson’s greatest United team was well beaten 2-0 by Guardiola’s Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League final. Two years later, the La Liga champions delivered the masterclass which changed how football has been played across every level for the past 15 years, outclassing a fine United team 3-1."
He did concede that there's only one winner currently in terms of trophies won, but had stats to back up his claim: "Over 26 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson perfected the winning habit, claiming 38 trophies. But Guardiola’s win rate over 10 years at City is higher.
"Aged 55, Guardiola has won titles in three major leagues in Europe. If he has the energy to work until he is 71 like Ferguson, he will eventually win more based on his current trajectory."
Carragher Criticised For His Ferguson Opinion
Sir Alex Ferguson
As expected, a Liverpool legend picking sides against a Man Utd great was never going to go down well. Fans, mainly of the Red Devils, quickly took to X to express their anger.
Some were quick to point out the elephant in the room, the 115 financial charges hanging over Man City's heads for the past few years. "I can give you 115 reasons, Carra," one supporter said.
"The idea that any reason 'baffles' you, Jamie, is absolutely ridiculous, especially when Pep’s success is on the back of 115 allegations that Man City build their finances to fund Pep fraudulently."
Another labelled Carragher 'the GOAT of attention-seeking', saying: "He really is the GOAT of attention-seeking behaviour."
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Others were more focused on Ferguson's achievements, with one annoyed fan responding: "Ten years and he’s run out of steam. Try double that. Then try another half. And Fergie’s won more trophies. “He stayed less so he won less” argument is flawed because he couldn’t bring himself to go again. So cry me a river. Fergie’s the greatest ever to do it in England."