Rio Ferdinand draws Manchester City parallels with iconic Barcelona side after Real Madrid rout – ‘When do they stop?’

Rio Ferdinand lavished Manchester City with praise after they cast aside Real Madrid 4-0 in their Champions League semi-final second leg at the Etihad.

The level of control City were able to exert on the competition’s most fabled team left Ferdinand drawing comparisons to the Barcelona side Pep Guardiola managed between 2008 and 2012.

The former Manchester United defender was provided a close-up demonstration of that side’s greatness, losing against them in Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011, and Ferdinand thinks City are on course to emulate their legacy.

“It is the manner in which they did it,” said Ferdinand on BT’s coverage of the semi-final. “Tactically, they dominated.

“And they had their foot on their throat and it was like they were just stamping on their throat. [They were] position[ing] them where they wanted them around the pitch.

“And then bang, goals – clinical at the right time. They were mesmeric – they took your breath away today and we were sitting in the studio going ‘how do you beat these guys?’

“I’ve played against a Pep Guardiola side which I think is the best club side ever in Barcelona – they had [Lionel] Messi and won the Champions League and they beat us.

“City have got to win this title – maybe a couple of times – but they’re on route to be classed alongside teams like that. Three back-to-back Premier Leagues, a potential treble and when do they stop?”

Michael Owen, working alongside Ferdinand as an analyst for BT, was full of praise for Guardiola, noting that the Catalan was the key component to both sides’ brilliance.

“And it’s no coincidence,” added Owen, “that the two teams that you’re talking about are managed by Guardiola.

“People can talk about great players but I played in a team with a collection of the greatest players. It doesn’t necessarily mean success.

“This man is an absolute genius. I mean tactically he is off the scale.”

The result means City are now three matches away from completing a treble. One more win will get them over the line in the Premier League – with games to come against Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford – with an FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3, and the Champions League final seven days later.