Fergie tells Guardiola to stay at Barca

Sir Alex Ferguson feels Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola should ignore thoughts of succeeding him as Manchester United boss.

Ferguson recently said he intends to vacate the Old Trafford hot seat in three years and Guardiola has been put forward by many pundits as the ideal replacement for the legendary Scottish manager.

With both men having been nominated for FIFA’s Coach of the Year award, the pair met at a press conference in Zurich on Monday during which Ferguson was asked if Guardiola would be the right man to succeed him as United boss.

“Why do you have to replace me?” Ferguson replied with a wry smile as he turned to address his Barcelona counterpart.

“If I were you I would stay at your club.”

While Ferguson was joking about the insinuated threat to his position, his assertion that Guardiola could not be in a better position at the moment was 100 percent genuine.

“At this moment, they (Barcelona) are by far away the best team in the world,” the 70-year-old said.

“We’ve been hurt by them on more than one occasion and it’s impossible not to recognise that they are the best. It’s that simple.”

Ferguson said he intends to stick to his promise to carry on for another three years.

“We’re planning for the future with the club but if I can stay there for a few more years, I will,” he said.

“It depends on my health but right now I feel perfect.”

Ferguson took charge of Manchester United in 1986 and has led the club to 12 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.