Pep Guardiola gives X-rated answer when asked to pick between Man City and Barcelona

Pep Guardiola gave a one-word expletive answer when asked to choose between Manchester City and Barcelona.

On Monday Guardiola was named the best male coach in the world at The Best FIFA Awards 2023 ceremony in London.

The Spaniard guided City to a historic treble last year, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

City have won the Premier League in five of Guardiola's seven seasons in the dugout, but last season's Champions League triumph was the first in the club's history.

The 52-year-old has managed a team to a treble before though. He achieved the same feat with his 2008-09 Barcelona team, widely regarded as the greatest club side of all time.

That side contained the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol. City's achievements last season inevitably prompted comparisons to that legendary team, with Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Rodri and John Stones just some of the key names involved.

So, which treble-winning team was better?

As Guardiola accepted his prize, event host Thierry Henry asked him exactly that question. Guardiola considered the question for a split-second, before putting his head in his hands and simply replying: "F***."

He then continued: "I don't know...it would be a good game! We will see who is the manager [in the opposite dugout]. Both are incredible teams.

"That team in Barcelona was incredible, we were so young. But this team in England, in the Premier League, is really tough and competitive for many competitions. These guys, season by season by season, even this season after winning the treble they are still there.

"Just being with them [the players], not winning or losing but just being with them, is the best award I can get as a manager, by far."

At the start of his acceptance speech, Guardiola said of his former club: "Barca is the club of my heart, the reason I am here, it is part of my life."