THINK PEP COULD WALK AWAY NOW HE'S ACHIEVED HIS HOLY GRAIL? FERGET IT!

It's fitting that Sir Alex texted encouragement to Guardiola buť, like his United rival, the City boss is driven and will already be planning to add to his 12 trophies

- ANDY DUNN

IT was a nice gesture from Sir Alex Ferguson to send a message to City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of the Champions League final in Istanbul.

And, as Guardiola said he was "touched" by it, it was, presumably, a message of encouragement.

When the giddiness and euphoria of the treble subsides a little - but the debate about the greatest manager to operate in the English game continues Ferguson might be tempted to ping Pep another note.

Mischievously, Sir Alex might want to remind the City manager that, after winning his treble in the 1998-99 season, he went on to claim eight further Premier League titles, one more Champions League, another FA Cup, three League Cups and a Club World Cup.

Now that is what is known as going again.

The thought that 52-year-old Guardiola might believe his Manchester mission would be completed by a Champions League win and that he might then walk away has long been dismissed. Pep goes again.

And there are many people out there who think City will once more sweep all before them next season. By 'all', we mean 'all', because don't believe for one minute that the Club World Cup will not be a major part of Guardiola's attention later this year.