Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits that Manchester United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke ‘the truth’ when he praised City.
In a recent interview with reporters, Ratcliffe referred to City’s display against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal as some of the finest football he had ever seen.
He also stated that, while they attempt to “knock them off their perch,” United can learn a lot from City.
In support of these statements, the new leadership has already moved to appoint Omar Berrada as their new CEO from City and have set their sights on Jason Wilcox, the former director of the academy.
Ratcliffe’s remarks were interpreted by Guardiola as another proof that United are committed to chasing City.
“It’s the truth. As much as the teams admit it, they will be closer to us,” he said as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
“If they want to deny it for things that are not the reality then it’s their problem. It’s not our problem. When I’ve been below teams I’ve always admired them and thought about what we need to do to be close, to challenge them.
“These are real competitive people. If they want to be judged on things they are comfortable with for one day they will not arrive where we are now.
“When we were below and United were winning, we were watching them, admiring them. We wanted to learn from them. The period of [Sir Alex] Ferguson – the generation with Roy Keane, David Beckham, Gary Neville – and all those big players. Rio Ferdinand.
“I’m pretty sure City admired and thought we want to be there. Now we are there. That’s why, for these type of comments, that I have the feeling that they will be back.”
United have tried and failed in chasing City in the last decade. They have been miles ahead of the Red Devils and this is something nobody can deny on the evidence of silverware City have won.
Since the appointment of Guardiola, City have been untouchable and their treble win last season proved that.
Domestic success has been normal for City in the last decade, the only thing missing from their trophy cabinet was the Champions League which they managed to win last season.
Ratcliffe’s praise for City is positive because that shows he knows what the standards at United should be and he is aiming to achieve that.
