Pique learning from Pep talks

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola could not be more different in their approach to management.

Pique played under Ferguson for Manchester United before returning to Barcelona - and that has given him a unique insight into the two most successful coaches in the game at the moment.

The 24-year-old told fifa.com: "They are very different. Ferguson is a manager and he often doesn't come down to the training pitch. He stays in his office and does a lot of different tasks at the club.

"I think that he's more of a father figure, at least that's how he was with me when I joined them at 17.

"He was a great motivator: the way he spoke in the moments before games was fantastic.

"Guardiola, meanwhile, spends all day with the players and then sits through 10 hours of video so he can show us footage of our opponents and how to attack them.

"Maybe it's simply a question of how long they've been coaching: Pep's just starting out while Sir Alex is much more experienced."

Pique added that Guardiola's decision to play a back three rather than a back four on many occasions this season has paid off.

He added: "We started doing it in pre-season more or less, and the gaffer got the idea because he felt we were getting too predictable: everyone knew all about us and played with every man behind the ball.

"The idea behind the 3-4-3 is to make us more attacking, give us more possession, and help us create more goalscoring chances.

"You have to do much more running. After matches you're noticeably more tired because you have to deal with more attacks, you get pulled out into wide areas.

"It's more punishing for the centre-backs. That said, it's been a very good thing for me personally, as it's made me more versatile."