PEP GUARDIOLA is the greatest Premier League manager ever according to Robbie Savage.
And the stats show the Manchester City boss pips Sir Alex Ferguson.
Of the 11 gaffers to lift the trophy, Guardiola boasts the best record in every department from win percentage, to points-per-game, goals scored and goals conceded.
His tally of 138 victories from 187 matches means his win percentage is 73.8 per cent, 6.7 per cent better than Antonio Conte and 8.6 ahead of Ferguson.
And with 23 draws, his points-per-game record is also top of the class on 2.34.
Fergie is second on 2.16, edging out Conte on 2.14 – although the Manchester United gaffer took charge of 810 Premier League games to Conte’s 76.
Of the other remaining managers to win the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp (2.09), Roberto Mancini (2.05) and Jose Mourinho (2.02) average more than two PPG.
Arsene Wenger (1.96), Carlo Ancelotti (1.86), Manuel Pellegrini (1.77), Kenny Dalglish (1.7) and Claudio Ranieri (1.68) make up the rest.
Guardiola also leads the way for average goals scored per game – 2.43 – and the best defensive record with 0.8 goals conceded.
And after securing his third Premier League crown in four years, Savage heaped praise on the Spaniard.
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He said on BT Sport: “Pep improves players and that side is incredible.
“For me, the best manager I’ve witnessed in the Premier League.”
Rio Ferdinand was not happy with the suggestion – after all, Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, ten more than Guardiola or anyone else.
The ex-defender was part of six title-winning seasons and fired back: “Sorry, like Chris Sutton said, you should go and get your coat for that.”
But Savage stood his ground and added: “Listen, the reason I’m saying that, Sir Alex, obviously the record he has.
“But in terms of overall, at Barca, at Bayern, now at Manchester City.
“The way teams from the Premier League down to grassroots play like Manchester City, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“The way he evolves teams. He’s won trophies with teams he should win trophies with, but if he wins the Champions League for Man City, for me, possibly the best ever.”
Ferdinand did admit his ‘love’ for Guardiola, though and hailed him as a ‘maverick’ while Joleon Lescott suggested the sheer longevity of Ferguson’s success means the Scot is still No1.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
