Pep Guardiola believes it is a brilliant compliment to be called the new king of ‘Fergie Time’.
The Manchester City boss’ side has scored three 80-plus minute winners in a row and has been likened to the teams of Sir Alex Ferguson, who were famous for scoring late goals.
Manchester United’s late surges became so famous and frequent, the final ten minutes were dubbed ‘Fergie Time’ and Guardiola says it is a ‘pleasure’ to be compared to those Red Devil sides.
‘I heard about the Fergie time, I was not here (in England) in that period but of course you have to have that,’ said Guardiola.
‘What we have shown in the last games is we never give up. If we can take something about the Fergie Time, it is welcome, a pleasure.’
United welcome City to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing they must beat their local rivals to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
David Silva’s 83rd minute winner against West Ham restored City’s eight point lead over United and was the Sky Blues’ 13th league victory in a row.
City have run through sides in that record-equaling run, but the last two league games have required late winners.
And Guardiola admitted he has learned several things in the past three weeks about his side.
‘I learned to attack a bit differently,’ said Guardiola.
‘Normally we don’t play with two strikers and two wingers. Maybe to attack this kind of defence it is much better.
‘They didn’t want to play. When they lost the ball, they didn’t press. They just went back with 10 players in the box.
‘It has happened the last three games. It is almost impossible.’
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