Sir Alex Ferguson has congratulated Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of his 1,000th match as a manager.Guardiola will reach the landmark when City, whom he has led to six Premier League titles and Champions League glory, host Liverpool on Sunday.Speaking on behalf of the League Managers Association, former Manchester United manager Ferguson said: “Pep! I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to join the prestigious LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club.”Your deep love and passion for the game has always been so evident and you should be very proud of the indelible impact you continue to have across the global game.”The legendary Manchester United Manager added: “Reaching 1,000 matches and achieving such longevity in football is a landmark that can never be underestimated and, to continue to deliver league, Champions League and domestic cup titles in three of Europe’s most competitive leagues is outstanding.”Sir Alex oversaw more than 2,000 games in his storied career.Guardiola began his managerial career with Barcelona B before being promoted to the main Barcelona job, followed by a stint at Bayern Munich, and then moving to City in 2016. He has won 715 of his 999 games so far.Sir Alex Ferguson has congratulated Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of his 1,000th match as a manager | PASpeaking on the upcoming occasion, Guardiola said: “I am so proud to be reaching 1,000 games as a manager which has always been a special ambition for me.”LMA chief executive Richard Bevan added: “Pep has dedicated his entire career to achieving excellence, driven by an unmatched will to win and a world-renowned style.”His achievements and success in Spain, Germany, and England are unprecedented, and his influence continues to shape the game for future generations.”Rival boss Mikel Arteta hailed Guardiola’s achievement and described the Catalan coach as “the most important person in my football career”.Pep Guardiola has been in charge of City since 2016 | Reuters The fellow Spaniard served as Manchester City assistant for three-and-a-half years until he took over at Arsenal in 2019.Arteta said: “What a number, what a career, what an inspiration he’s been to everybody in football, I would say in sports as well and especially for me.””It’s an incredible achievement, it goes in the history of the very best and the few that could only achieve something like that and again, as I said, I think it will remain in the history of football for the years to come.”Asked if he would like to emulate Guardiola’s tally of 1,000 matches as a manager, Arteta added: “Well, I would be extremely happy and proud if one day I’m able to do what he’s done in his career because, as you all know, he’s been probably the most important person in my football career.”Five things to know about Man City boss Pep Guardiola | GETTY/GBNEWSHe added: “And I’m incredibly proud of him and what he’s done.”Manchester City currently sit in second place in the Premier League, six points behind league leaders Arsenal.Liverpool is closely following the Blues with only one point difference separating the two rivals.The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City has become the most prominent in English football over the last decade, defined by intense title races and the elite managerial battle between Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.Pep Guardiola has said he will not manage another club after City | ReutersManchester City are unlikely to risk Rodri in Sunday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool, Pep Guardiola confirmed.The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder missed the midweek Champions League defeat of Borussia Dortmund after suffering another injury setback.Rodri has made just six starts this season as he battles to return to full fitness following the knee surgery that ruled him out for much of the 2024-25 campaign.Guardiola said at a press conference: “We will see tomorrow but I think we will not take the risk.”