Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen says the club should have worked harder to beat Manchester City to the appointment of Pep Guardiola.

Speaking after the derby defeat against City on Wednesday night Meulensteen spoke about the aftermath of Ferguson's retirement and rued the missed opportunity by not appointing Guardiola.

“If Sir Alex Ferguson would have still been in charge I think there would have been two or three or probably four changes," the former United coach told Stadium Astro.

“Players would have left the club and again you would have just carried on. I think that was the biggest thing for me.

“I would have done everything in my power to bring Pep Guardiola to Manchester United.

“I think his philosophy is so close in terms of the attacking way to play as we always wanted."