Steven Gerrard has an eight-word question which Sir Alex Ferguson still hasn't responded to nearly a decade later.
Despite being recognised as one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League and one of the best midfielders in history, Ferguson played down the Liverpool legend's achievements and ability.
In his autobiography, released in 2013, Ferguson caused a huge stir when he said, "I’m one of the few who felt Gerrard was not a top, top player.”
The line dominated headlines at the time and two years later, Gerrard released his own book, titled, 'My Story'.
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It was serialised in the Daily Mail and Gerrard was took part in a quickfire questions feature, one of which saw him asked, "If you could ask one question to a sportsman/sportswoman?".
In response, the former England captain said: "I’d ask Alex Ferguson, ‘Do you really think that I am average?"
Despite that, Gerrard did include Ferguson in his dream dinner party guests alongside Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez.
Steven Gerrard explained how he felt after reading Sir Alex Ferguson's comments
Not long after Ferguson's comments on Gerrard, he appeared on the Clare Balding Show and gave an honest take on how they made him feel.
"I went on trial at Manchester United when I was 13 and had a letter off them wanting to sign me on a seven-year deal," Gerrard explained.
"I’m a huge fan of Alex Ferguson and what he’s done in the game is fantastic, that’s the reason why he’s sold that many copies in the first week.
"I was genuinely a little bit gutted when I read that, the reaction of the papers, when he said I’m not a top, top player. But I won’t lose sleep over it, everyone is entitled to their opinion."
In the past, Ferguson has praised Gerrard and called him "physically and technically precocious" ahead of a meeting between Liverpool and his Manchester United side in 2000. Four years later and Ferguson that "anyone would love to have him in their team" when discussing Gerrard in an interview with the Sunday Times.
In the same interview on the show with Balding. Gerrard revealed that he rejected the chance to play under Ferguson early in his career when he came calling with an offer to move to Old Trafford.
"He tried to sign me in early 2002-03, he tried to sign me again to play for United.
"I obviously refused, so I can’t really take it to heart too much. But I’m a bit gutted because I’m a big fan of his."
The two appeared to become cordial later on as Gerrard asked Ferguson for advice in a meeting which lasted "a couple of hours" following his sacking from Aston Villa.
Gerrard returned to management with Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia but left at the start of this year.
Topics: Steven Gerrard, Liverpool, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson
Josh Lawless