Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson: Despite Real Madrid getting better, Barcelona at their best are unstoppable

The Old Trafford manager has taken the time to praise the Catalan giants, and feels they are the number one team in the world when all their stars are in form

By Stefan Coerts

FA Cup; Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool v Manchester United
Getty Images
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced his opinion that Barcelona are still the best team in the continent, and added that they have the ability to 'play a game that's beyond everyone else'.

The Premier League title holders were beaten 3-1 by Pep Guardiola's men in last year's Champions League final, and the Scottish coach has nothing but respect for the Catalans.

"I still think Barcelona are the best team in Europe, although Real Madrid are closing the gap on them. The lead they’ve got in the league shows that," Ferguson was quoted as saying on the official Fifa website.

"They might be on the same level as them soon, but for the moment Barca have still got that magical ability to play a game that’s beyond everyone else. When [Lionel] Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta are on song, they’re just unstoppable."

Ferguson then looked back at last year's Champions League final, and insisted that he does not have any regrets about his tactical choices in the defeat.
 
"I don’t regret anything we did because they were the better side.


"The first two goals were entirely avoidable and maybe with a bit of luck we could have won the game, but when the other team’s that bit better than you, then there’s not much you can do about it," he concluded.

Manchester United were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stages, and are currently preparing for Thursday's Europa League encounter with Ajax.

Starting in November and continuing through to the middle of February, Goal.com is publishing exclusive extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated new book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. The last extract looked at how Barca suffered rare disappointment at the hands of Real Madrid in a gripping finale to last season's Copa del Rey. Don't miss it!


 
Inside Goal.Com
  1. Vote for your Goal.com World Player of the Week Vote for your Goal.com World Player of the Week

    Have your say on who you think should win Goal.com's weekly honour

  2. Euro 2012 a timely respite for depressed Spain Euro 2012 a timely respite for depressed Spain

    With 24 per cent unemployment, wage cuts and little hope for improvement in the short term, the continental competition will at least take people's minds off their sad situation

  3. Welbeck impresses but it's a bad day for Johnson Welbeck impresses but it's a bad day for Johnson

    Ashley Young has also all but secured his place in the starting line up against France while Steven Gerrard put a good shift in. Here's how the Belgium friendly affected the England player's chances of featuring in Euro 2012

  4. Five players Rodgers could sign for Liverpool Five players Rodgers could sign for Liverpool

    The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market

  5. Lambert the latest in EPL manager merry-go-round Lambert the latest in EPL manager merry-go-round

    The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday