Sir Alex Ferguson's Wembley presence is a reminder of the Pep Guardiola challenge Manchester United still face

"It's sore, isn't it?" Sir Alex Ferguson quipped upon announcing Pep Guardiola as the LMA Manager of the Year for the third time in midweek.

Guardiola has inflicted numerous wounds on Manchester United they lack the balm for. Guardiola's Barcelona was the only challenge Ferguson failed to conquer during his 26-and-a-half-year epoch.

The challenge has been on United's doorstep for seven years now and they are still powerless to truly overcome Guardiola and City. There have been derby victories to savour and a double in 2019-20 but United have never been City's superior during Guardiola's residency on Deansgate.

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Ferguson is culpable. United had a chance against Guardiola's Barca in the 2009 Champions League final but not in 2011 after two years of under-investment. Ferguson remained a staunch Glazer apologist until his final day in the dugout.

He met Guardiola during his sabbatical in New York in September 2012 and advised him to "give me a call" when he was ready to return to management. Ferguson decided in December that that season would be his last.

A month later, Bayern Munich announced Guardiola would replace Jupp Heynckes in the summer. Going off the timeline, Ferguson was the one who should have been picking up the phone.

So Ferguson went from someone who had won everything to someone who had won nothing. Whatever your misgivings - if any - about Jose Mourinho, he had to be the heir apparent in 2013. Yet Ferguson's ego was greater than Mourinho's.

Ten years on, United have still not fully recovered from the chastening 10 months David Moyes lasted. Ferguson's triumphant legacy is not only