Pep Guardiola’s team that beat Manchester United in both the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals is regarded by many football fans as the best of all time.

Although Barça’s starting line-up in 2011 was different from the team that had triumphed in Rome two years earlier - Sylvinho, Yaya Toure, Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o had made way for Eric Abidal, Javier Mascherano, Dani Alves, Pedro and David Villa - the spine of the team was near enough unchanged.

Victor Valdes in goal; Gerard Pique at the heart of defence; the legendary three-man midfield comprised of Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, and finally Lionel Messi upfront.

The Catalan giants recorded a comfortable 2-0 win in 2009, thanks to goals from Eto’o and Messi, and produced an even more polished performance at Wembley two years later.

Although Wayne Rooney equalised for United shortly after Pedro’s opener, Guardiola’s men were always on top and deservedly won 3-1 thanks to second-half goals from Messi and Villa.

Ferguson: Barcelona were too good

After the final whistle, Sir Alex Ferguson held his hands up and admitted Barcelona were on a different level to his side.

"They're the best in Europe, no question about that. In my time as a manager, I would say they're the best team we've faced. Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that,” Ferguson told reporters, per the Guardian, at the time. “It's not easy when you've been well beaten like that to think another way. No one has given us a hiding like that. It's a great moment for them. They deserve it because they play the right way and enjoy their football.”

One question after the match irked Fergie

But while Ferguson may have been gracious in defeat, there was one question in the post-match press conference which irked him.

“Sir Alex, if the owners of Manchester United gave you a blank cheque over the summer and allowed you to bring in any one - just one - of Barcelona’s team from tonight, who would you sign?” one journalist asked the legendary United manager.

Fergie's response was amazing

The Scot, dismayed by the question, delivered an amazingly sarcastic response.

Watch Fergie’s response to the question here…

Burn.

Bit harsh to single out Mascherano, though, Fergie.

Every manager would have signed Messi

Of course he would have signed Messi, like any other manager with their head screwed on properly.

Ferguson’s team had just been destroyed by the Argentine forward, who was named Man of the Match, so you can understand why the question irritated him.