Roberto Mancini sent a letter to Alex Ferguson to offer the Manchester United manager his best wishes following the announcement that Ferguson is to retire at the end of the season.
The Manchester City manager would not be drawn on the details of what he wrote to Ferguson. “Yeah, I sent a message. I sent a letter,” he said. “It is private and confidential.”
But Mancini, an admirer of Ferguson, did reveal that his standout memories of the Scot come from the 12 matches between their teams since the Italian arrived in England.
He said: “Every derby was fantastic. Also when we lost. It is normal you think about the derby when we won 6-1 [in October 2011] at Old Trafford. I think that it is impossible, I don’t think there is another tie like this or can be another tie like this; 6-1 at Old Trafford against United is a good memory for us.
“Also when we lost because we play every game at the same level. Three years ago when we lost, they were better than us. Every derby is a good memory.”
Asked where Ferguson ranks among the great managers, Mancini said: “This is difficult. Everyone can have his opinion but one manager who stays for 27 years in the same club and won every trophy for 27 years is an incredible situation.
“I don’t think there will be another manager like him. In Europe, there are other good managers.
“I don’t know if you can say Sir Alex is the best but he is the best in the last 27 years.”
William Hill have installed City as the 11/8 favourites for next season's Premier League title, with the champions second at 7/4 under David Moyes. Would Ferguson's departure make it easier for Mancini?
“I don’t think this. A top club, a big club like United, you can change the manager. Sir Alex built this team but it is a big club with a big history and I don’t think it will change something,” he said.
Mancini’s City have managed only a single win in eight attempts against Moyes’s Everton, losing six of those games.
Mancini joked that he hoped it was Everton rather than Moyes who City found tricky.
Guardian Service
