Pep Guardiola's seven-word text message to Rio Ferdinand over Man City's fourth title revealed
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been in regular contact with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
Guardiola became the first manager in Premier League history to win four league titles in a row, adding his sixth league crown to the trophy cabinet since arriving at City.
Manchester United won three league titles in a row twice, between 1998 to 2001 and 2006 to 2009 but Guardiola’s side have now made history and surpassed their closest rivals.
The Catalan is now only the fourth manager to win six English top-flight titles alongside Sir Alex Ferguson, George Ramsay and Bob Paisley as City moved 35 games unbeaten with the win against West Ham - the longest run ever by a Premier League team.
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Ferdinand revealed after the historic win on Sunday that Guardiola was desperate to do what United failed to do.
He claimed City’s manager thought about the idea of winning four league titles in a row before the season had even started.
“I talk to Pep quite a lot on the phone,” he told TNT Sports. “Four in a row has been on his mind before this season started.
“He messages me taking the mick, ribbing me ‘if we win, we’re past Man Utd’.
“There’s a hunger and desire for him to overtake Man Utd.
“This guy is the main difference, he’s a genius amongst elite people in that squad and at the club, he is the difference-maker.
“Aligned to his genius tactically and the way he sets up his systems to combat others is the way he evolves and year in, year out brings something new to the table. That’s the difference. And the recruitment behind that.”
Despite Guardiola’s aim to surpass United’s legacy, the ex-Barcelona boss cast doubt over his long-term future at the club ahead of next week’s FA Cup final.
His current contract is due to expire in 2025 and he admitted he is ‘closer to leaving than staying’ after watching long-term rival Jurgen Klopp wave goodbye to Liverpool after nearly nine years.
Guardiola said: “The reality is I'm closer to leaving than to staying.
“It's eight years, it will be nine. Right now my feeling is I want to stay next season. We talked with the club, we have time to talk next season because I have to see the players as well, if they follow me, they follow us.
“I want to stay next season. During the season, we will talk. But after eight, nine years..."
Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Manchester United, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand, FA Cup
Marcus Banks