Sir Alex Ferguson health update three weeks after Man Utd icon was hospitalised | Football | Sport

Just over three weeks on, the Scot wasn’t well enough to attend Tuesday’s event, but did pen a letter to Manager of the Year recipient Frank Lampard. Thomas Tuchel stepped in to present the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy in his absence.

The England head coach said: “It is, of course, not the same without Sir Alex himself, and we wish him all the best and a speedy recovery so that he is hopefully with us next year on stage again. Until then, I have the privilege to read this letter to you, Frank.”

Ferguson’s letter began: “Dear Frank, many congratulations on being named LMA Manager of the Year. You should be very proud of what you and your team have accomplished.

“Your personality as a manager and a leader is so clearly defined in how your team has played great football this season with confidence and self-belief, and I have enjoyed watching you.

“I know from speaking with you that you have great humility and that important quality of a curious mind for learning.

“I’m sure winning this award will mean a great deal to you, Frank, and I wish you the best of luck in the Premier League next season.”

Lampard claimed the accolade after guiding Coventry City to the Championship title. Mikel Arteta walked away with the Premier League Manager of the Year award, for which Michael Carrick and Pep Guardiola were also shortlisted.

Andoni Iraola, Keith Andrews and Regis Le Bris rounded off the six-man shortlist.

During his last Manchester City pre-match press conference, the Catalan boss revealed: “One of the biggest compliments I had: I got a message from Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday. That made me so happy.”

When pressed on the contents of the message, Guardiola replied: “A Scottish accent, I didn’t understand it! I will call him back. Congratulations for the trajectory and for what we achieved. It means a lot to me.

“He is the greatest in this country. The tenure, the time, and for many, many reasons… I’m happy that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest, could [see]… I’m pretty sure [to] Sir Alex, we are not the ‘noisy neighbours’, we are the ‘neighbours’. Just ‘the neighbours’. And I’m happy that he has been watching.”

Ferguson consistently praised Guardiola throughout his tenure as United manager.

Following the 3-1 defeat to his Barcelona side in the 2011 Champions League final, the Scotsman remarked: “In my time as manager, this is the best team we’ve faced – I think everyone acknowledges that and I accept that.”