Jose Enrique: Comparing Pep to Sir Alex is like comparing Messi to Maradona
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Jose Enrique: Comparing Pep to Sir Alex is like comparing Messi to Maradona

Former Liverpool player Jose Enrique believes that it is pointless trying to compare Sir Alex Ferguson to Pep Guardiola, as people are never going to see eye-to-eye over the debate.

Pep Guardiola, last weekend, won his fifth Premier League title in six seasons at Manchester City, achieving his first three-peat with the club and is on the verge of a historic treble.

Sir Alex spent 26 seasons at Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles, two European Cups, and managing to win his own treble in 1999. Enrique believes that Pep has a way to go before he can be compared to the former United manager.

"Sir Alex Ferguson won 12 Premier League titles for Manchester United during his tenure there. "We need to see Guardiola more, and I think he will stay at Manchester City for a lot longer. But what Sir Alex did for Manchester United will be very difficult to replicate. I love Guardiola; he is a top manager," said the Spainard to safebettingsites.com

"Yes, Man City have a lot of money behind them, and it helps Pep a lot, but people don't know how difficult it is to manage a team like that as well. Look at PSG; they have all the best players in the world but struggle to win the Champions League.

"For me, he is one of the best ever - but he is not above Ferguson. In his time, Fergie was the best, and now it is Pep. Wenger is also a Premier League great and probably above Guardiola.

"If Guardiola wins the treble, he will be up there. City have Inter Milan in the Champions League Final, and seven days prior, they play Manchester United in the FA Cup Final.

Although City can go on to create their own history with their own treble, Enrique believes comparing Pep to Sir Alex is like comparing Argentine legends Messi and Maradona.

"Manchester City is currently the best team in the world. It is difficult to compare them to the Invincibles or Manchester United in 1999 because you have to also respect those teams," added the former Newcastle player.

"Also, I don't think I have watched enough of those teams to compare. It's like comparing Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. I didn't see Maradona play, so it will be difficult to draw a comparison between them. Even without the treble, I don't think I have ever seen a Premier League team like this before.

"They are making the Premier League look like a farmers' league. It is difficult to say, but Manchester City is definitely up there.