Pep Guardiola has helped establish Manchester City as the dominant force in England during his six-year reign, but how has he fared against local rivals Manchester United? We've done some digging to find out…
Guardiola arrived in England back in the summer of 2016 when City had just beaten United to a place in the following season's Champions League.
While they were already beginning to inch ahead of their Manchester rivals, the former Barcelona boss soon began to create a chasm between City and United.
As United have floundered under a succession of managers, never once threatening a title challenge, Guardiola has won four Premier League crowns while playing some of the best football ever seen on these shores.
But the 51-year-old hasn't always emerged from Manchester derbies unscathed; United have scored plenty of victories over Guardiola's City, most memorably in February 2018 to deny City the opportunity to win the league against their greatest rivals.
Having won their past four Premier League games, they might fancy their chances of upsetting the applecart at Old Trafford again on Saturday.
City could do with a win themselves to put the pressure back on Arsenal, who currently sit five points above them in the league. If any team in the league is capable of going on a miraculous unbeaten run, it's Guardiola's City.
Regardless of what happens this weekend or on any individual result, though, Guardiola is already one of the greatest Premier League managers of all time and perhaps only second behind Sir Alex Ferguson.
City were never much of a threat under Ferguson's reign at Old Trafford, only becoming noisy neighbours in his last couple of seasons, though they often raised their game against United.
Under Kevin Keegan, City won the last derby at Maine Road and the first encounter at their new stadium. But, as befitting the status of the two teams during the 1990s and 2000s, United usually came out on top.
But which managerial great has enjoyed the better record in the fixture, Guardiola or Ferguson? We've compiled the relevant statistics to answer that very question…
Pep Guardiola
Games: 17
Wins: 9
Draws: 2
Losses: 6
Goals for: 29
Goals against: 19
Points per game: 1.71
Win rate: 53%
Loss rate: 35%
Goals per game: 1.71
Goals against per game: 1.11
Sir Alex Ferguson
Games: 45
Wins: 25
Draws: 9
Losses: 11
Goals for: 76
Goals against: 59
Points per game: 1.86
Win rate: 55.5%
Loss rate: 24.4%
Goals per game: 1.68
Goals against per game: 1.31
zachsanchez
0
Ferguson had the money to spend and he did... eras have changed and spending has gone beyond the roof in modern day football but it does not mean that Fergi did not equally spend to build those teams... Man utd was the richest club of his era...
When you are at a club for that long like Sir Alex's been at you will spent alot of money.... But if you look at the players that he's bought and manage you know Sir Alex is better than Pep.
barcelonatill
0
and pep 15 years and still counting 2 champion league
15 years and 27 year are not d same
vidcdelopr
0
who told you that Ferguson won 🏆 European super cup for Aberdeen before coming to United and he won against real Madrid, so he started to do big things before coming to England right.
Weckouyz
0
I would fancy Pep over Ferguson anytime because Pep has build a name for himself in Spain, Germany and now England unlike Ferguson who only has a reputation in England
Says by whom go and check your record and come Back okay he even won a champions league before coming to England and the team he coach and won it will shock you
Weckouyz
0
Sir Alex is the best of all time , but Pep is the best in this era
Plz check your record again he won a champions league before coming to united
niobcdikty
0
Who gave Ferguson best of all time? 27 years at Manchester united and he won 2 champions league and u are calling him best of all time
and pep 15 years and still counting 2 champion league
ManCityFanForever
0
Says by whom go and check your record and come Back okay he even won a champions league before coming to England and the team he coach and won it will shock you
He won CL BEFORE COMING TO ENGLAND😂 Yes, United is French team🤣🤣🤣
Weckouyz
0
Alex didn’t prove himself outside England.
Says by whom go and check your record and come Back okay he even won a champions league before coming to England and the team he coach and won it will shock you
jef7
0
When Ferguson was coaching, Manchester City was not a force like now.
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒑 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆
maebcdkno
1
Sir Alex is the best of all time , but Pep is the best in this era
ok
ManCityFanForever
1
Alex didn’t prove himself outside England.
ManCityFanForever
1
Pep father of Alex chiken fry
cuscnprsu
0
Pep achieve all that due to the financial backing he have..... Look at Sir Alex team and compare it with Pep's players across the club he has managed.... That is why Sir Alex is on a different level....
Ferguson had the money to spend and he did... eras have changed and spending has gone beyond the roof in modern day football but it does not mean that Fergi did not equally spend to build those teams... Man utd was the richest club of his era...
barcelonatill
0
Sir Alex is the best of all time , but Pep is the best in this era
Who gave Ferguson best of all time? 27 years at Manchester united and he won 2 champions league and u are calling him best of all time
BeckMathew
1
When Ferguson was coaching, Manchester City was not a force like now.
zachsanchez
0
I would fancy Pep over Ferguson anytime because Pep has build a name for himself in Spain, Germany and now England unlike Ferguson who only has a reputation in England
Pep achieve all that due to the financial backing he have..... Look at Sir Alex team and compare it with Pep's players across the club he has managed.... That is why Sir Alex is on a different level....
Wbest
2
Sir Alex is the best of all time , but Pep is the best in this era
Lescott99
2
Sir Alex the goat of all managers🐐🐐
TrinityLove
4
you cannot compare 26 years to 7 years it's uneven.
drakevoyah
2
I would fancy Pep over Ferguson anytime because Pep has build a name for himself in Spain, Germany and now England unlike Ferguson who only has a reputation in England