London: Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Barcelona as the best side he has ever faced after the Spanish giants outclassed Manchester United to lift the Champions League at Wembley.
Ferguson said United had been “given a hiding” after the Catalans handed his team a ruthless masterclass in a one-sided final at Wembley, where Pep Guardiola’s men romped to a 3-1 victory on Saturday.
“In my time as a manager I would say yes, this is the best team I’ve faced,” Ferguson told a press conference afterwards.
“I think everyone acknowledges that and I accept that. It’s not easy when you’ve been well beaten like that to think in any other way. No one’s given us a hiding like that.”
Saturday’s victory was Barcelona’s second triumph in the Champions League in three years.
Ferguson admitted that Barcelona would be difficult to beat so long as their star players Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez remained in their ranks.
“I think that great teams do go in cycles, and I think the cycle they’re in at the moment makes them the best in Europe, there’s no question of that,” he said.