Gerard Pique explained the differing styles of Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola having played for both legendary managers.. The former defender began his illustrious career at Manchester United in 2004 after departing Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy. Pique made 23 appearances over four years at Old Trafford before returning to the Spanish giants and establishing himself as one of their most successful defenders ever.. He made 616 appearances across all competitions and contributed to nine La Liga titles and three Champions League victories. Pique was a key part of Guardiola’s sextuple-winning side in 2009 and also enjoyed international success, winning the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and the European Championships in 2012.. Despite playing under two of football’s greatest managers, Pique declined to choose between them when asked who was better. Instead, he discussed the differences between the two iconic figures, acknowledging that they were at completely different stages of their careers when he played for them.. “At that time it was very different,” he said to talkSPORT last year. “But not the style, it was more the position of Pep in Barcelona and Sir Alex as Manchester United.. “Obviously it was the last years of Sir Alex and first years of Pep. Pep didn’t have the power that Sir Alex had in Manchester United. Sir Alex was more like a manager than just a coach.. Gerard Pique enjoyed great success with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona (Image: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images). “Guardiola was just a coach at Barcelona. So Sir Alex, to give you an example maybe, some training he was not even there at the pitch, he was more focused on the game day, making the team, these kind of things.. “Pep Guardiola, when he arrived, he was very young and he really wanted to control everything and his role was different to Sir Alex’s.”. Pique previously hailed Fergie for taking him under his wing when moving to England as a teenager, telling BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues show: “Alex Ferguson was a second dad to me.. “He had that quality of really taking care of the young ones that were coming through. At the time they had a lot of young talent and Cristiano Ronaldo had just arrived, too.. “When I was in the dressing room, I felt very integrated and we had a very good team. My experience was incredible. I still have a really great relationship with some of my team-mates like Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney.”. Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season
