Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has revealed Pep Guardiola sent him a text message hours before Manchester City beat Real Madrid, telling him that Man City would win the tie.

Manchester City dominated the tie as they thrashed the holders 4-0 and progressed to their second ever Champions League final.

“He text me, Pep Guardiola text me before the game,” Ferdinand told BT Sport after the full-time whistle.

“He said: ‘Believe me, we beat them two years ago. We’ll beat them again. Believe.’

“The conviction that he had, the confidence. That was two or three hours before the game. He’s sending me a text like that.

“That is pure confidence in the detail he has gone through leading up to this game, and the confidence he has in those players.”