‘I told you’ – Rio Ferdinand reveals text he got from Pep ahead of FA Cup Final before Man City thumped Real Madrid

Rio Ferdinand claims he received a text message from Pep Guardiola detailing his confidence in his squad just hours before Manchester City defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Blues cruised past the cup holders thanks to a double from Bernardo Silva, a deflected header from Manuel Akanji, and a stoppage-time strike from Julian Alvarez.

Guardiola has remained solemn when asked about City’s Champions League ambitions, but he was a lively figure on the touchline against Real, excitedly celebrating each goal.

Rio Ferdinand was on BT Sport punditry duty and claimed that he had wished Guardiola well earlier in the day. With a smile, City manager Pep Guardiola pointed to the former Manchester United player and exclaimed, “I told you!”

“He texted me, Pep Guardiola, before the game,” Ferdinand replied when asked about the texts. I wished him luck, and he texted back, saying, “Believe me, we beat them two years ago, and we’ll beat them again.” Believe’.

“I just thought, two or three hours before the game, the conviction and confidence he had.” He’s sending me text messages like that. That is absolute confidence in the detail he’s undoubtedly gone through in the lead-up to this game and in those players.”

Ferdinand waxed poetic about City’s domination and how they made it look so easy against the defending champions, singling out one player in particular.

“It’s more the way they got here,” he added. They have just demolished, beaten, and pulverized a European footballing titan.

“A team that has won the Champions League on multiple occasions.” They did it in a canter, with ease and loads in the tank, without even breaking a sweat.

“We talk about individual battles, and Kyle Walker came out here today and said, ‘I’m going to dominate a world-class footballer (Vinicius Jr.).” You have to be a character to do that.”