Gerard Piqué reveals Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson were 'very different' but explains two key similarities
Gerard Piqué explained the main differences between Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Spain and Barcelona united legend talkSPORT Drive in the studio on Wednesday to talk about his new seven-a-side football league in Barcelona, the Liga del Rey, as well as his illustrious career.
Between his World Cup and European Championship victories with his country in 2010 and 2012 respectively and his numerous national trophies, Pique He had the honor of being coached by two iconic coaches: Ferguson and Guardiola.
Piqué, who hung up his boots in 2022, started his career at Barcelona, but moved to manchester unitedin 2004 and was quickly promoted to Ferguson's first team.
The centre-back remained at Old Trafford for four years, winning the League Cup in 2006 and the Champions League and Premier League in his final season in 2007/08.
That summer he returned to Barcelona, which was directed by the current city of manchester Guardiola, coach.
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Like most fans, Drive host Andy Goldstein He was interested in whether the pair's styles were similar or completely different, and Piqué revealed it was more of the latter.
However, it was not the style of football that set them apart.
“At that time it was very different,” he said. “But not the style, it was more the position of Pep at Barcelona and Sir Alex at Manchester United.
“Obviously it was Sir Alex's last years and Pep's early years. Pep didn't have the power that Sir Alex had at Manchester United. Sir Alex was more of a coach than just a coach.
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“Guardiola was just a coach at Barcelona. So Sir Alex, to give you an example, maybe he wasn't even on the pitch during some training sessions, he was more focused on match day, building the team, that kind of thing.
“pep guardiola“When he arrived he was very young and he really wanted to control everything and his role was different from that of Sir Alex.”
However, there were two crossovers in the styles of the iconic managers.
Piqué continued: “They had similarities with the speech, because they are both true motivators and know how to really involve the team so that they can perform.”
“But also tactically, I would say they were both brilliant. Knowing exactly what the team needs to attack and defend in each game because the situations are different. They knew how to do it.”
But despite their differences, Pique revealed that he actually found it easy to adapt to Guardiola's style.
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That was because they both came through Barcelona's youth ranks, so it was 'very easy' to adapt to the way he wanted him to play.
Piqué stayed in Barcelona for another 16 years and eventually ended his career there.
He stayed after Guardiola left Bayern Munich in 2012, where the Spanish coach spent four years before his move to Man City in 2016.
Piqué played 616 games for his boyhood club in total, scoring 53 goals and registering 13 assists.
He won three Champions Leagues, nine LaLiga titles and seven Spanish Cups to add to his incredible achievements with Spain.
