Did Sir Alex Ferguson offer Pep Guardiola the Manchester United job? Not even the Bayern Munich manager is sure

The Spaniard, who ended up deciding on a move to Germany, has been full of praise for United's rivals Liverpool

Pep Guardiola said that if Sir Alex Ferguson offered him the United job last year he did not understand him (EPA)

Pep Guardiola will take his seat in the opposition dug-out at Old Trafford tonight, but he could well have been in the seat occupied by David Moyes.

The former Barcelona manager took a year out of the game before deciding on his next move, during which he had dinner with then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

It's been suggested that at that meeting Ferguson discussed the possibility of Guardiola succeeding him as manager, something that in the end went to Moyes. There is no clear indication whether Guardiola turned the opportunity down or if it was never offered in the first place, and the Spaniard was coy in shedding any more light on the situation ahead of tonight's Champions League tie.

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"I didn’t understand him so maybe that’s why I do not know if I had an offer or not," quipped the serial trophy winner.

Guardiola opted to return to management with Bayern Munich, a job that appeared an almost impossible task considering the club won an unprecedented treble last season. Succeeding Ferguson appeared a similiarly difficult challenge but where Moyes has floundered, by general consent Guardiola has made Bayern an even better team than the one he inherited from Jupp Heynckes.

David Moyes has struggled to fill Ferguson's boots (Getty Images)

Revealing a little more about the meeting with Ferguson, Guardiola added: "He invited me to a super restaurant and we had a good time and when he spoke I had a few problems understanding him. It was friendly dinner. Like always, with me he was nice and we spent a good time together."

While Guardiola said he did "not know why" United have struggled this season, during the press conference to preview tonight's game, Guardiola took the opportunity to speak highly of Liverpool, United's great rivals and possibly the team that will take their Premier League crown.

"I'm happy that Liverpool are coming back this season, because they are playing awesome.

"They deserve to be there and it's good for the Champions League that next season Liverpool will be there."

With no chance of finishing in the top four, United will not be there unless they can progress past Bayern Munich and go on to lift the Champions League trophy.