Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of Sunday’s game, where our manager will become the longest serving manager in the club’s history, beating Sir Matt Busby by a day.

“He’s involved in United not just as coach but also really inside this club,” said Ancelotti. “He has a lot of passion. He’s a fantastic example for every coach to follow. I would like to do the same, but 24 years is too much!”

In Ancelotti’s 15 years as a manager, he’s won two league titles (one with Milan, one with Chelsea), two European Cups and seven other trophies (from Coppa Italia to FA Cup, Intertoto Cup to FIFA World Club Cup).

In Ferguson’s 36 years as a manager, he’s won 14 league titles (11 with United, 3 with Aberdeen), two European Cups and 20 other trophies (from the Scottish Cup to the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup to FIFA World Club Cup).

It’s not only his trophy haul that Ancelotti is likely to be jealous of, but the status he has within the club. After Chelsea’s defeat against Birmingham last month, the blues boss said: “It is a different position to Ferguson because he has total control of the team. I have just the technical direction, full stop, okay.”