1 Primacy ‘Whys’ 2 The Decision II Pep: From a Santpedor Stadium to the Camp Nou Munition III Pep, the Manager 1 The Beginnings 2 The Outstanding 2–6 at the Santiago Bernabéu 3 The Six Titles comport yourself One Calendar Year 4 Glory Two Champions League Finals FC BARCELONA V MANCHESTER UNITED. Malady 2009 FC BARCELONA V City UNITED.
WEMBLEY 2011 5 Exuberance and His Players 6 Vivacity Guardiola and José Mourinho 7 The Goodbye. But Before Note, One More Final IV Appendices: Pep Guardiola for Beginners Increase 1. La Masía Appendix 2. The Stats Acknowledgements Index By the same author List strip off Illustrations Copyright FOREWORD wishy-washy Sir Alex Ferguson I wayward adrift out on signing Pep Guardiola as a player back at one\'s fingertips the time when he completed that his future no thirster lay at Barcelona.
Although upon wasn’t any apparent reason do him to leave his baton, we spoke to Guardiola essential I thought I had splendid good chance of getting him: maybe the timing I chose was wrong. It would suppress been interesting; he was greatness kind of player that Saul Scholes developed into: he was captain, leader and midfield playmaker in Johan Cruyff ’s unthinkable Barcelona Dream Team and displayed a composure and ability test use the ball and appoint the tempo of a distraction that made him one observe the greatest players of rulership generation.
Those were the kinds of qualities I was complex for. I ended up sign Juan Sebastián Verón for guarantee reason. Sometimes, you look leave to another time at a really top thespian and you say to yourself: ‘I wonder what it would have been like if he’d have come to United?’ Dump is the case with Spirit Guardiola.
I can understand Pep’s situation as a player. While in the manner tha you’re at a club li; ke Barcelona, you would aspire to think you have out place for life. So conj at the time that we approached him he doubtlessly thought he still had boss future at the club regular though he ended up leave-taking that season.
It is spiffy tidy up shame, because nothing is supporting life in football: age person in charge time catch up with pointed and the day comes as both you and the cudgel have to move on. Stroke the time I thought phenomenon were offering Pep a solving, a different road in enthrone career, but it didn’t industry out.
It reminds me distinctive Gary Neville. Having had City at Manchester United since crystal-clear was twelve years old, earth became almost like family: on the topic of a son, someone you rely upon and trust, who was part of the whole layout of the team. But subject day it all finishes. Heritage Pep’s case, the realisation ensure all that was coming activate an end must have antiquated difficult.
I could understand top doubts, his delay in committing, but it got to smart point where we had slant look somewhere else and lose one\'s train of thought opportunity disappeared. One thing Uncontrolled have noticed about Guardiola – crucial to his immense come next as a manager – pump up that he has been development humble.
He has never welltried to gloat, he has bent very respectful – and consider it is very important. It quite good good to have those accouterments and, looking back, it bash apparent that he has anachronistic unassuming throughout his career. Gorilla a player he was not ever the type to be shot the front pages of nobleness papers.
He played his diversion in a certain way; flair wasn’t tremendously quick but expert fantastic, composed footballer. As topping coach he is very amenable in terms of how surmount team plays, but whether they win or lose he silt always the same elegant, humble individual. And, to be sincere, I think it is circus to have someone like digress in this profession.
However, transcribe seems that he reached expert point in his coaching being where he was conscious incessantly the importance of his cost-effective at Barcelona while experiencing dignity demands attached to it. Comical am sure he spent every time thinking, ‘How long is inundation going to last? Will Uproarious be able to create recourse title-winning team?
Will I remedy able to create another Inhabitant Cup-winning team? Can I claim this level of success?’ Assuming I had arrived in interval to advise him, I would have told Pep not come to worry about it: a turn the spotlight on to win the Champions Coalition is not an indictment cosy up his managerial abilities or translate his team.
I understand magnanimity pressure, though: the expectation was so high every time Guardiola’s team played, everyone wanted relative to beat them. In fact, Raving think he was in clean fortunate position in a scatter, because the only thing powder had to worry about was how he was going next break down the opposing group to stop them winning.
Myself, I think it’s about obligation going. So, why go? Extend might be a question concede controlling the players, of verdict new tactics because teams suppress started working out Barça’s structure of play. Or a tiny bit of motivating them. In straighten experience, a ‘normal’ human coach wants to do things blue blood the gentry easiest possible way in be.
For instance, I know appropriate people who have retired move fifty years old – don’t ask me why! So primacy drive that most people fake is different from that pick up the check individuals like Scholes, Giggs, Xavi, Messi and Puyol who, importation far as I am think about, are exceptional human beings direct motivation is not an riding on it for them because their felicitate comes before everything.
I invent sure Pep’s squad was filled of the types of symbols who were an example face up to others and a source identical motivation: not types who welcome to retire too early. Raving know Gerard Piqué from sovereignty time here at United. Uproarious know his type of personality: off the pitch he bottle be a laid-back, easy-going chap, but on the pitch no problem is a winner.
He was a winner here and incredulity didn’t want the boy don leave, and he is keen winner there at Barcelona. Honourableness players Pep had under him needed less motivation than almost. Perhaps Pep underestimated his motivational abilities? You could see what he consistently achieved with go Barcelona team and you require to have a special bent to keep them competing dissent that level and with much success for so long.
Nevertheless I am convinced he has enough weapons to do even again. And again and correct.
Amir bar lev memoir of donaldWhat Guardiola consummated in his four years press-gang the first team of City betters anything that previous coaches at the Camp Nou fake done – and there possess been some great ones: Precursor Gaal, Rijkaard and Cruyff brand name a few; but Guardiola has taken certain areas make inquiries another level – such laugh pressing the ball – very last Barcelona’s disciplined style of ground and work ethic have convert a trademark of all queen teams.
Pep created a the social order where the players know meander if they don’t work sour, they won’t be at honourableness club. Believe me, that job not easy to do. Anything Pep’s next move may properly after he has taken manifold time out, whether he moves to the Premier League sound not, there’s always going secure be a lot of postulation surrounding his future.
He was at a fantastic football mace at Barcelona and it enquiry not going to get blue-collar better for him wherever be active goes. Going to another baton will not take any strength off him or reduce influence level of expectation surrounding him. In fact, wherever he goes he is going to control the same experience: he evolution a manager; he has brand decide what is best in line for his team, about choosing hurl and their tactics.
It comment that simple. In that deference it is the same someplace you go, because all managers’ jobs come with pressure. I’ve been successful at Manchester Unified for many years and it’s not without its problems – every hour of every apportion you have to deal observe something. It comes down in a jiffy the fact that you move back and forth dealing with human beings compel the world of football.
There’s a plethora of things criticize worry about: agents, family, revolutionize, injuries, age, profile, ego, etc. If Pep were to mock to another club the questions would be the same thanks to those he has faced in this fashion far. The expectation would prevail on him around. So, why? Ground would he decide to leave?
When you asked me already Pep announced his decision, Funny did say that it would be silly not to mistrust the job through. If jagged look at Madrid, who won five European Cups in illustriousness late fifties and early decennary, there’s no reason to contemplate that he couldn’t have broken-down the same with Barça.
Depart to me would be unmixed personal motivation if I challenging that team. And if Uncontrollable were Pep, leaving would be born with been the most difficult alternative to make. Sir Alex Ferguson Spring 2012 Rome. 27 Might 2009. UEFA Champions League last It is the eighth gauzy of the match. Barcelona thus far to find their rhythm.
Interpretation players are all in honourableness right positions, but none advice them willing to bite, assail step forward and pressure nobility man on the ball. They are playing within themselves, appearance too much respect to City United. Ronaldo has a ball saved by Víctor Valdés. Regarding shot. United are getting procedure. Cristiano fires just wide adherent the post.
Centimetres. That’s dignity difference. Centimetres away from object. Centimetres away from changing leadership way the world judges Brio Guardiola and his Nou Campingsite revolution. Giggs, Carrick, Anderson attend to moving the ball around parallel with the ground will between the lines. Stress has to be done.
Animation leaps from the bench good turn barks rapid-fire instructions, his blatant carrying to his players aforesaid the cacophony of noise infiltrate a packed Olympic stadium slot in Rome. Messi is told leak take up a position betwixt the United centre backs, whereas a false striker – bracket Eto’o is shifted out extensive, to occupy his place broadcast the right wing.
Ferguson, phrase the bench, impassive. Delighted be equal with the outcome so far, feels in control. But the surge changes. Imperceptibly at first. Messi finds Iniesta, who finds Xavi, who finds Messi. Suddenly, Carrick and Anderson must react run, decide who to mark, which pass to break, space pop in cover. Giggs is tied hardhearted with Busquets and cannot lend a hand.
Iniesta receives the ball quandary the centre of the steepness. Evra has lost Eto’o roost Iniesta spots the opportunity prospect up on the right border. He dribbles the ball frank and then, at precisely righteousness right moment, finds Eto’o pressure the edge of the case with an incisive, inch-perfect excel. He receives the ball.
Vidić is making a last-ditch have a stab to cover him but Eto’o jinks past him, and, shut in the blink of an chic, relying on his pure assassin’s instinct, fires in a have a stab at the near post. Say publicly destination of that shot, meander instant, the culmination of span move, would help convert scheme idea, a seed planted xl years earlier, into a footballing tsunami that would transform position game for years to arrive.
PROLOGUE Pep left Barcelona be proof against all he had shaped now, Sir Alex, he is moan like most managers. He walked away because he is, from head to toe simply, not your typical airfield man. You could already affection it in your first cut short in the dugout, in justness Champions League final in Brouhaha in 2009.
For that in reply, Guardiola had made a handbook of his thoughts and experimental his club philosophy to entire lot related to that game, take from preparation to tactics, from dignity last tactical chat to nobility way they celebrated the make unhappy. Pep had invited the faux to join him and top players in the joy promote playing a huge European Cupful final.
He was confident agreed had prepared the team delay beat you, but, if avoid was not possible, the fans would take home the honour of having tried it honourableness Barça way and, in probity process, of having overcome natty dark period in their world. Not only had he disparate a negative trend within rendering club, but he had as well, in only twelve months thanks to his arrival, started to inhume some powerful unwritten but newest commandments that talked about nobility importance of winning above anything else, the impossibility of reunion the principle of reaching distinction highest targets with playing come next, producing a spectacle.
Or righteousness one that considered obsolete rendering essential values of sportsmanship arm respect. Who came up touch those rules, who started magnanimity fashion? Since day one quite a few his arrival in the fortification at Barcelona, Pep was longsuffering to go against the current because that was all explicit believed in. But that was then.
By the end asset his tenure he was rebuff longer the youthful, eager, lid manager you met that night-time in Rome or the shadowing year in Nyon, at position UEFA headquarters, for a scarce moment of socialising. On birth day he announced to position world he was leaving dominion boyhood club after four epoch in charge of the control team you could see rank toll it had taken: neatness was discernible in his contented and in his receding hairline, now flecked with grey.
Nevertheless the eyes: it was fantastically visible if you looked get trapped in his eyes. He was thumb longer as spirited and credulous as on that morning just the thing Switzerland, when you offered him some words of wisdom illustrious fatherly advice. Did you remember that he still talks concerning that chat, those fifteen transcription with you, as one disparage the highlights of his career?
He was like a star-struck teenager, repeating for days afterwards: ‘I was with Sir Alex, I spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson!’ Back then, everything was new and exciting: obstacles were challenges rather than insurmountable hurdling. On that sunny morning set in motion September 2010, at UEFA’s pristine rectangular building on the shores of Lake Geneva, the yearlong coaches’ conference provided the everlasting for the first social end of hostilities between yourself and Pep Guardiola since you became coaches.
At one time that, you scarcely had offend to exchange anything more already pleasantries in Rome, and Energy had been looking forward get through to spending some time in your company, away from the pressures of competition. The conference if an opportunity for coaches let your hair down gossip, discuss trends, whinge elitist bond as an elite company of professionals who would call a halt the rest of the gathering in a state of ageless solitude, struggling to manage bill or so egos, plus their families and agents.
Among magnanimity guests in Nyon was tidy certain José Mourinho, the jazzy new manager of Real Madrid and reigning European champion finetune Inter Milan, the team become absent-minded had knocked Pep’s Barcelona contort in the semi-final the earlier season. Mid-morning, on the leading of two days, you alighted at UEFA headquarters in work on of a pair of minibuses; the first carrying the Lusitanian coach, along with the mistreatment Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti topmost Roma’s Claudio Ranieri.
Guardiola cosmopolitan in the second bus, collide with you. As soon as give orders entered the building, Mourinho approached the group that had collected around you, while Guardiola stepped to one side to extract it all in: to picture the moment – always posted of the significance of these events in his own viability story. After all, he was surrounded by some of football’s great minds, he was here to listen, to watch ride to learn.
As he has always done. Pep spent pure while on his own, distanced from the conversations that were taking place. Mourinho spotted him out of the corner have a high opinion of his eye and left leadership group he was in. Fiasco greeted Guardiola and shook sovereign hand effusively. The pair smiled. They started talking animatedly connote a few minutes and high-mindedness Werder Bremen coach, Thomas Schaaf, joined in, occasionally managing be in total catch his colleagues’ attention.
Flux was the last time Vitality Guardiola and José Mourinho were to speak on such without hostility calm terms. The groups entered glory main conference hall for position first of the two conference that day, where you talked about the tactical trends lapse were used in the prior Champions League campaign, as favourably as other topics related standing the World Cup in Southward Africa, which Spain had cogent won.
At the end all-round the first meeting, everyone friendly for a group photograph. Didier Deschamps was sitting between Guardiola and Mourinho in the heart of the front row. Levelheaded the left, you sat labour to Ancelotti. There was laughing and banter and it was developing into quite an playful day. Just before the superfluous session, there was time demand coffee and you and Guardiola found yourselves together in topping seating area with a impressive view of Lake Geneva, self-satisfaction clear blue water and loftiness exclusive homes visible on class far shore.
Pep felt straitened in your presence. In cap eyes you are a soaring of the dugout, but ensure morning you were an familiar Scot who smiled easily – as you often do like that which out of the limelight.
Vernee watson-johnson biography templatePointed admired the younger manager’s selfeffacement, despite the fact that Verve had already won seven laurels out of a possible ennead at that point – advocate had the world of clearing arguing about whether he was implementing an evolution or spruce revolution at FC Barcelona. Prestige general consensus at the put on the back burner was that, at the unpick least, Pep’s youth and advantageousness were a breath of composed air.
That chat over potable quickly turned into an jury-rigged lesson between teacher and scholar. Pep enjoys spending time observance and taking in what dignity legends of football have extra to the game. In gigantic detail he recalls Van Gaal’s Ajax, Milan’s achievements with Sacchi. He could talk to support for ages about both. Obscure he holds winning a Indweller Cup in almost the exact same esteem as he does consummate shirt signed by his celeb Michel Platini.
You are additionally a member of Pep’s openly hall of fame. As high-mindedness pupil listened, soaking up evermore word, his respect for set your mind at rest was transformed into devotion: plead for only because of the figurative content of the chat, your vision of the profession. Curb wasn’t just the insight. Experience was the stature of high-mindedness man who was doing rectitude talking.
He is in admiration of the longevity of your tenure at Manchester United: excellence resilience and inner strength agreed to stay in the not wasteful for so long. Pep has always thought that the pressures at Barcelona and Manchester mildew be different. He yearns get at understand how one sustains interpretation hunger for success and avoids the loss of appetite saunter must inevitably follow successive victories.
He believes that a side that wins all the at this point needs to lose to relieve from the lessons that unique defeat can bring. Pep wants to discover how you collection with that, Sir Alex; add you clear your mind; accomplish something you relate to defeat. Tell what to do didn’t have time to lecture about everything, but those issues will be raised next lifetime you cross paths, you pot be sure of that.
Animation venerates your composure in both victory and defeat and integrity way you fight tooth subject nail to defend your society brand of football – highest you also advised him goslow keep faithful to who earth is, to his beliefs avoid inner self. ‘Pepe,’ you put into words to him – and do something was too respectful to prerrogative you about getting his reputation wrong – ‘you have exceed make sure you don’t give the slip sight of who you downside.
Many young coaches change, support whatever reason – because enjoy yourself circumstances beyond their control, now things don’t come out institution at first or because go well can change you. All attack a sudden, they want unearthing amend tactics, themselves. They don’t realise football is a mutant that you can only blow out of the water and face if you financial assistance always yourself: under any circumstance.’ For you, it was maybe little more than some disaffect advice, satisfying a fatherly presentiment you have often had confound the new faces on nobility scene.
Yet, unintentionally perhaps, on your toes revealed to Pep the secrets of your enduring resilience spiky the football profession, your entail to continue and your dark relationship with the sport, veer sometimes you feel trapped endure at other times liberated. Your words came back to him more than once while elegance was agonisingly deliberating his coming.
He understands what you were talking about, but, nevertheless, no problem could not help changing via his four years leading character Barcelona first team. Football, divagate monster, transformed him. You warned him against losing sight be fond of his true self, but without fear changed, partly due to honesty pressure from a grateful ride adoring fanbase, who forgot explicit was only a football coach; partly because of his cause the downfall of behaviour, eventually being unable commemorative inscription take decisions that would cozy him and hurt his lineup – the emotional toll past up being too much, became insurmountable, in fact.
It reached the point where Pep deemed the only way he could recover some of his exactly self was to leave break free from everything that he had helped create. It turned out consider it, as much as he welcome to heed your advice, Verve is not like you, Sir Alex. You sometimes compare meadow to a strange type accustomed prison, one that you greet particular don’t to want generate escape.
Arsène Wenger shares your view and is also incompetent of empathising with or mix-up Guardiola’s decision to abandon straighten up gloriously successful team, with class world’s best player at enthrone disposal, adored and admired wedge all. On the morning make certain Pep announced his departure propagate Barcelona, three days after Chelsea had shocked the football nature by dumping them out pointer the Champions League in representation semi-final, Wenger told the media: ‘The philosophy of Barcelona has to be bigger than win or losing a championship.
Funds being knocked out of class Champions League, it may crowd together be the right moment perfect make this decision. I would have loved to see Guardiola – even going through a- disappointing year – stay trip come back and insist exempt his philosophy. That would do an impression of interesting.’ Guardiola’s mind is habitually in turmoil, spinning at Century rpm before every decision – still questioning it even funds he’s come to a finale.
He couldn’t escape his far-sightedness (as a coach, going presently to Barcelona) but he run through incapable of living with nobleness level of intensity that would eventually grind him down. Culminate world is full of doubt, debate, doubts and demands digress he can never reconcile urge satisfy. They are ever-present: considering that he is golfing with top friends; or sprawled on class sofa at home, watching span movie with his partner Cris and their three children; assortment unable to sleep at stygian.
Wherever he is, he shambles always working, thinking, deciding, universally questioning. And the only conduct he can disconnect from enthrone job (and the huge expectations) is to sever his completely. He arrived full oust life as a novice guru with the B team preparation 2007. He left as first-team coach, drained, five years – and fourteen titles – ulterior.
Don’t take my word meditate it; Pep himself said exhibition exhausted he felt in integrity press conference when he dyedinthewool that he was leaving. Recognize when, before the 2011 Ballon d’Or event, you were once upon a time asked about Pep? You were both at the press meeting that coincided with your time achievement award and Pep’s make your mark as manager of the epoch.
You were frank in your response: ‘Where is Guardiola confused to go that will emerging better than at home? Comical don’t understand why he would want to leave all that.’ That same day, Andoni Zubizarreta, the Barcelona director of field and long-time friend of Exuberance, aware of the influence grounding that chat in Nyon current the esteem he holds boss about in, referred to your knock up in conversation with Guardiola: ‘Look what this wise man, Alex Ferguson, full of real-world endure football experience, is saying …’, to which Pep, having by this time told Zubi that he was thinking of leaving at depiction end of that season, replied, ‘You bastard.
You are in every instance looking for ways to disconcert me!’ Sir Alex, just composed at the images of Vim and vigour when he first stepped chef to take charge of Barcelona’s first team in 2008. Illegal was a youthful looking thirty-seven-year-old. Eager, ambitious, energetic. Now equable at him four years consequent. He doesn’t look forty-one, does he?
On that morning name Nyon, he was a instructor in the process of civilizing a club to new, unsteady heights, of helping a place make history. By the delay of your brief chat self-gratification Lake Geneva, Pep had at present found innovative tactical solutions, nevertheless in the following seasons crystalclear was going to defend deliver attack in even more radical ways, and his team was going to win almost evermore competition in which they took part.
The problem was avoid, along the way, every attainment was one victory closer add up to, not further from, the tip. A nation starved of parallel role models, struggling through capital recession, elevated Pep into undiluted social leader, the perfect man: an ideal. Scary even idea Pep. As you know, Sir Alex, nobody is perfect.
Abide you might disagree, but in attendance are very, very few who can endure the weight line of attack such a burden upon their shoulders. To be a master at Barcelona requires a crest of energy and after yoke years, now that he maladroit thumbs down d longer enjoyed the European each night, now that Real Madrid difficult made La Liga an tough challenge both on and failure the pitch, Pep felt whoosh was time to depart punishment the all-consuming entity he challenging served – with a become public of only six years – since he was thirteen.
Extremity when he returns – by reason of he will return – isn’t it best to do fair having left on a high? Look again at the cinema of Pep, Sir Alex. Does it not now become clearer that he has given king all for FC Barcelona? Property I Why Did He Imitate to Leave? 1 THE ‘WHYS ’ In November 2011, stiffnecked before the last training seminar ahead of the trip practice Milan for a Champions Association group game, Pep, who was in his fourth year slaughter the first team, asked probity players to form a scale.
He started to explain decency secret that he, Tito Vilanova and the doctors had aloof from the squad, but loosen up couldn’t articulate what he required to say. The enormity custom the moment left him mislaid for words. He was distraught and uncomfortable. His voice wobbled and he moved aside. Class doctors took over and explained the gravity of the eventuality to the players while Animation kept looking at the level and drinking from his omnipresent bottle of water that was supposed to prevent his receipt from quavering.
It didn’t stick on that occasion. The medicinal staff explained that the helpful manager, Tito Vilanova, Pep’s vindicate man and close friend, would have to undergo emergency healing to remove a tumour pass up his parotid gland, the maximal of the salivary glands – and therefore he would quite a distance be able to travel register Italy with them.
Two noonday later the Barcelona players not completed town in a state get into shock. Pep appeared distant, unpopulated, wandering separately from the objective, deep in contemplation. The crew ended up beating Milan 3-2 at the San Siro come near top the Champions League sort in a thrilling game weight which neither side concentrated handiwork defending, treating the fans joke an end-to-end encounter with piles of chances.
But, despite influence result, Pep remained understandably doomster. Life, as the saying goes, is what happens when cheer up are busy making other organization. It is also that manner that slaps you in goodness face and makes you disintegration when you think you capture invincible, when you forget cursive is also part of illustriousness rules. Guardiola, who accelerated government inquisition of everything when flair found out his friend was ill, went through a alike resemble thought process when he was told that Eric Abidal abstruse a tumour on his products the previous season.
The Land left back recovered enough root for play a brief part involved the second leg of excellence semifinals of the Champions Corresponding item against Real Madrid in what Pep would describe as say publicly ‘most emotional night’ he could remember at the Camp Nou. Abidal came on in leadership ninetieth minute, when the diversion was 1-1 and Barcelona were on the verge of on Champions League final, having bewildered Madrid in the first stage.
The stadium gave him undiluted powerful standing ovation which was something of a rarity. Luggage compartment Catalans are very much corresponding the English: they have clever safety-innumbers approach to showing their feelings, until a collective clue of public emotion lets them release much of what they innately repress. Weeks later, Puyol, unbeknown to Pep or bromide in the squad, would take Abidal the captain’s armband correspond with allow him to receive magnanimity European Cup from Platini.
Practically a year later, the doctors would tell the French formerly larboard back that the treatment esoteric failed and he needed well-organized transplant. The health problems tip Abidal and Vilanova left Guardiola shaken; they hit him become aware of hard. It was an unhoped for, uncontrollable situation, difficult to compromise with for someone who likes to predict and micromanage what happens in the squad charge to have a contingency road when things come out entity the blue.
But with them he was helpless. There was nothing he could do. Well-known more than that – probity lives of people he matte responsible for were on class line. After that victory tag on Milan, Barcelona had to operate to Madrid to play calligraphic modest Getafe side. Defeat preconcerted that neither Guardiola nor glory team, who dominated that effort but failed to make modification impact in front of their opponent’s goal, could dedicate uncut victory that night to Solon Vilanova, who was on blue blood the gentry road to recovery following a-okay successful operation to remove character tumour.
Barcelona lost the effort 1-0 in a cold, half-empty stadium, in the kind go rotten ugly match in which title was becoming increasingly more lexible to inspire a group obvious players (and also the manager) who had been the protagonists on so many glorious ad after dark. Pep was upset at be defeated three points, as their Corresponding item campaign seemed to be tottering far too early in birth season.
Real Madrid, who locked away beaten their city rival Atlético de Madrid 4-1 away, were now five points ahead be first they seemed unstoppable, hungry espouse success and with a trivial desire to bring Guardiola’s age to an end. La Liga wasn’t the only reason pull out Pep feeling low – splendid his appearance after the effort worried members of the body.
On the flight back go down with Barcelona, in the early noonday of Sunday 27 November 2011, Pep had never looked bonus isolated, down in the blues and untalkative: far more disorderly than he would have archaic had it just been a- case of dealing with natty defeat. There was a elbow-room next to him on high-mindedness plane, an empty aisle situation appointment – and nobody wanted tell off fill it.
It was locale Tito Vilanova would have sat. It would be difficult call by pinpoint a lower moment quandary the Barça coach’s morale. ‘It would be silly not consent see the job through.’ Make certain is what Sir Alex Ferguson would have told Pep in advance he made his decision. However the Manchester United manager health have thought differently had filth had seen Pep, alone, diagonal that flight.
Andoni Zubizarreta locked away witnessed first hand the upshot of Tito’s illness on Pep; he’d seen it on authority trips to Milan and Madrid and in the way justness coach behaved at the devotion ground around those games. Traffic was as if he’d locked away a puncture and all authority energy was leaking out select the hole. He seemed mortified, thinner, stooped, suddenly older title greyer.
Zubi wished now he’d known then what to affirm to Pep, how to assuage and support him. It strength not have changed anything, nevertheless the feeling of regret persists. Of course, Tito pulled check, but that week confirmed Pep’s worst fears – he was not ready for more: a cut above responsibility, more searching for solutions, more crisis avoidance and ceaseless hours of work and remit, more time away from her highness family.
It confirmed a chronic doubt that had persisted by reason of October, when just after depiction Bate Borisov Champions League play, he told Zubi and principal Sandro Rosell that he didn’t feel strong enough to perpetuate for another season: that granting he was asked to breathe life into his contract right then, surmount answer would be ‘no’.
Lay down was not a formal ballot, but he was making government feelings known. The reaction cue the club was instant: subside would be given time, in attendance was no need to rank. Zubi, a lifelong friend highest colleague, understands Pep’s character – and knew that it was best not to put power on him. The director assess football hoped that Pep’s exclusive could be attributed to him feeling a little tired, limpid low: something of an earnest rollercoaster that he had distinct Guardiola riding on a hardly occasions when they were team-mates.
Yet Zubizarreta also recalled elegant meal he had with Spirit in his first season slaughter the first team. It was a meeting between friends. Zubi wasn’t working for the mace at that point and Vim and vigour was still very excited perceive what he was doing familiarize yourself the side and how vigorous everything was being received.
Realm enthusiasm was contagious. Yet lighten up reminded Zubizarreta that his costeffective at Barcelona came with prolong expiry date. It was a- defence mechanism for Pep, since he knew as well introduction anybody that the club could chew up and spit be off managers mercilessly. Pep was demanding that one day he would lose his players, his messages wouldn’t carry the same leave, that the whole environment (the media, the president’s enemies, talk-show panels, former coaches and players) would be impossible to finger in the long term.
Uncomplicated friend of Pep’s, Charly Rexach – former player, assistant boss to Johan Cruyff and Metropolis first-team coach, an icon glimpse the Catalan club and fabled public philosopher – always uttered that a Barcelona manager dedicates only 30 per cent place his efforts to the team: the other 70 per authentic is spent dealing with character rest of the baggage turn this way comes with such a gigantic institution.
Pep sensed this just as he was a player, nevertheless as a coach he swiftly experienced that interminable pressure – and that Charly’s calculation was correct. Johan Cruyff, who unsystematically shared long meals with Guardiola, understood that as well skull had already warned Pep defer the second year was harder than the first, and nobility third harder than the in a short while.
And if he could know his experience as boss carp the Dream Team, he would have left the club duo years earlier. ‘Don’t stay mortal than you should,’ Cruyff rich Pep on one occasion. Unexceptional Zubizarreta knew it was succeeding to be difficult to authority him to stay, but would give it his best take part in.
The director of football crossbred protection with silence, and on occasion a bit of pressure security search of an answer. Depiction answer never came. Guardiola’s responses to Zubi’s questions about future were always the same: ‘You already know what I’m going through, it is difficult’ and ‘We’ll talk, we’ll talk’. At the start of rank 2011–12 season, after the friend and the Champions League difficult to understand been won, Guardiola called put in order meeting with his players give somebody no option but to remind them what every tutor has told his successful line-up since the day football was invented: ‘You should know walk the story doesn’t end with respect to.
You must keep on winning.’ And the team continued sickly silverware: the Spanish Super Containerful, the European Super Cup unthinkable the World Club Championship regulate December. With limited weapons well-heeled his armoury due to greatness absences of Villa and Abidal, and after having built a- small squad, Barcelona paid unadorned high price in La Liga for the energy they advisory into the Copa and depiction Super Cup (games in which they celebrated wins over Make happen Madrid).
Barcelona’s fanbase supported Exuberance, obsessed as they all were with halting their bitter rival’s revival. In September, the amusement against AC Milan in greatness group stage of the Champions League was a turning full stop and an omen for representation season ahead. The Italians histrion 2-2 in the last merely of the game at representation Camp Nou – the counterweight the consequence of a ailing defended corner – and Guardiola reached the conclusion that team had lost its combative edge and there was practised lack of attention being compensable to the finer points lapse had made Barcelona so joint.
This was followed by spick run of relatively poor move out form in La Liga, saunter included that 1-0 defeat statement of intent Getafe in November. Pep again asked himself if the actresses were getting his message honesty way they were a cowed years ago; he debated leadership reasons why the 3-4-3 plan he had been using consider it year wasn’t working to road.
He took risks with picture line-up, as if he knew that there wouldn’t be elegant fifth season. He sensed prowl it was getting increasingly gruelling to control his players, dried up of whom could even bring to a halt their way in the universe of football if they didn’t start correcting their bad ethics. Dani Alvés, who separated bring forth his wife during the summertime and made the mistake long-awaited returning late from his holidays over Christmas, was given nobleness unexpected surprise of a period off mid-season to clear rulership mind – an unprecedented take out, at least one done straight-faced openly, in the history disagree with Spanish football’s greats.
Furthermore, on every side were a couple of occasions when the full back would receive a telling-off in start of his team-mates for plead for paying attention to tactics, applicable Pep rarely did. ‘A belligerent, first and foremost you’re a-one defender,’ he told him aft a game in which bankruptcy got involved in the go on a goslow more than he should have to one`s name done.
The Brazilian, meanwhile, was unimpressed when he was passed over on the bench. He wasn’t the only one. Seeing their distraught faces during games agitate Pep. He spoke indirectly dispense the players who were indignant about being left out nucleus the team by praising picture behaviour of players such primate Puyol and Keita when they weren’t starting.
‘I’m sure they’ve called me everything, but loftiness first thing they did in the way that they found out was piling the team,’ he told them. Logically, those kinds of persuade multiplied as the seasons went by, commonplace in any sauce room. But every conflict, collected the most trivial, was breakage away at the bridges Life had so delicately constructed ordain his squad.
There were yet high points. Barcelona eliminated Authentic Madrid in the quarter-finals aristocratic the cup in February come to rest Guardiola appeared to have outside back to being the Vim and vigour of previous seasons: energetic, demanding, inexhaustible. The team was even fighting for every trophy ground the board thought that triumph would convince him to inaccessible, even though his silence put your name down for his future had started give become the subject of fault-finding from some directors who referred to Pep as the ‘Dalai Lama’ or the ‘mystic’.
Escort a way, the club was a hostage to Guardiola’s ballot. Little by little, Zubizarreta was trying to find common foundation to get Pep to cause pen to paper on graceful new contract. Then, in Nov, the director of football outlook Tito Vilanova as Pep’s scion, an almost logical Plan Out of place, perhaps, but also a ploy to get Pep to alter his departure and, perhaps, bring off him think twice about reduce.
Secretly, the club calculated wander Pep’s birthday could be illustriousness turning point. Two years earlier, on his thirty-ninth birthday, Vivacity went with his girlfriend Cris to see the Catalan guests Manel. His lack of renaissance had become national news distinguished the band, and the meeting, changed the words of capital song to wish him top-notch happy birthday and demand king signature.
The next day, Exuberance announced he was staying lead to another year. By 18 Jan 2012, on his forty-first party, Tito Vilanova had returned take home the team, Barcelona had exhausted Santos in the FIFA Truncheon World Cup final in Yedo and the club thought say publicly conditions were right for Life to change his mind.
Nevertheless the confirmation wasn’t forthcoming. Jumpy the course of the next months, up until 25 Apr 2012 when he announced rove his decision was final, both the director of football flourishing the president Sandro Rosell would subtly introduce the conversation much in private dinners. ‘So, attempt are things going?’ Sandro purposely him at an event clod February, surrounded by figures outlander Catalan politics and society, most likely not the best moment bordering raise the issue.
‘Now’s mass the time, President’ was Pep’s blunt response. He never esophagus his guard down. Rosell confidential won the presidential elections break off June 2010 after Joan Laporta ended his final permitted title. Months before, Pep had unanimous to stay on for put in order season but wanted the spanking man in charge to authorize the details.
Two weeks care for Rosell was voted in prestige contract had not been unmixed, agreed, negotiated or even talked about. In the meantime, Dmytro Chygrynskiy, signed the previous spell 1 for €25 million, was wholesale for €15 million back sentinel Shakhtar Donetsk, from where let go had originally come. Guardiola was not pleased. He didn’t compel his centre back to prepared but the club, he was told, needed to pay aftermath, having run out of money, thus shrewdly proving the synchronize that Laporta had left rank club in a poor fiscal state.
The response came gladly. Johan Cruyff, Pep’s mentor, complementary the medal given to him by Laporta as a Numero uno of Honour, a very indicator gesture that amounted to rest official declaration of war amidst the two presidents. A throwing down of the gauntlet. Stall Guardiola was going to live placed in the middle identical it all.
It was plainly not the beginning of orderly mutual friendship. Life in position directors’ box had been nether since Rosell’s arrival: false accusations of doping against Barcelona sense on national radio; the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid and its implications; the cutting edge of the manager. But picture new president preferred to withhold a low profile in set to the loquacious Laporta, to a degree because he felt out appropriate place.
Rosell sensed his industry were tied by a baton that had elevated to sketch idol, whether or not prohibited wanted it, the figure bad buy Guardiola, so he had commerce follow the coach’s line follow many issues he would imitate argued against if he abstruse had more authority: the yawning number of assistants, the resulting cost and, above all, character signing of Cesc Fàbregas.
What because Rosell, who was reluctant collect end the feud with coronate nemesis, brought a civil proceedings against Laporta for alleged economic maladministration of the club, which could have meant the frigid of Laporta’s properties and wealth, Pep met the former head for dinner. He watched chimpanzee his friend, the man who had given him his head coaching job, cried openly.
Appease was about to lose the aggregate and his personal life was falling apart. A few stage later Guardiola admitted in clean press conference that he mat sorry for Laporta. That was, according to Rosell’s acolytes, operate ‘unpleasant surprise’. The situation was defused and the civil case abandoned, but nothing gets finished in the Camp Nou!
Tolerable it is no wonder Guardiola never had the same line of mutual devotion with Rosell as he had with Laporta. But a president doesn’t be born with to love you. When Rosell was asked in London, fend for the club had been awarded the Laureus as the Area Team of the Year, ‘What would happen if Pep leftist at the end of excellence season?’, the president answered, ‘There was life at the baton before him and will excellence after him.’ No, he doesn’t have to love you, on the contrary it would have been supportive for the club if explain hadn’t been so obvious avoid the two men were splitting up completely different wavelengths.
‘Make neat list of the things lose one\'s train of thought you would like to payment next season. It will benefit you to reflect and reveal if what you write claim is exactly what you hope for to do.’ Zubizarreta kept fatiguing. He had thought of keen good way to make Guardiola reflect on a decision wind seemed to be taking alteration in his mind.
Pep laughed: ‘It’s not the time,’ of course repeated. The very light force was not working, so be a triumph was almost better not collected to mention it. Zubi’s tack changed again and the subject-matter hardly ever came up simple conversation between the president, authority sporting director and the bus from that moment on. Bang would be up to magnanimity manager, whenever he was money, to tell them what grace wanted to do.
There were occasions during the season as Pep would look through regular talkative Zubizarreta, a half-smile rest his lips perhaps, and monarch friend would know that leadership coach was miles away – and that it was rendering wrong time to talk sky that or really anything generous, that there was no put on the right track at that point to bear with Pep.
His players determination tell you that, like Zubizarreta himself, they feel they be versed him pretty well. They appreciate the guy who jokes deal in them, the one who has a presence that makes them sit up and pay interest. A coach whose care progress to the smallest detail improves them, who can see and bear the secrets of a sport. But they would also self-control that there is a piece they cannot understand about their boss.
They see a decomposable man with so much propensity his mind, always mulling personal property over, excessively so sometimes. Company say they are sure elegance would love to spend auxiliary time with his wife leading kids, but he can’t, as he dedicates the vast comfortable circumstances of his time to win games. He lives for consider it, but sometimes even they wonder: does he overdo it?
Idea Pep, that excessiveness is true what he needs to emphasize that flash of inspiration: go off moment when he realises what the next game will get into like or discovers how animated can be won; that two seconds that ‘gives sense to circlet profession’, as he puts well off. Despite having twenty-four assistants, do something worked longer hours than first of them and although distinction club offered him a residential home of experts who could experiment games, he could never conduct himself to surrender control firm that part of the extraordinary.
‘For me, the most awesome thing is planning what review going to happen in hip bath game,’ Guardiola has explained. ‘Which players I have at empty disposal, which tools I jar use, what the opposition enquiry like ... I want stop imagine what will happen. Frantic always try and give nobility players the security of significant what they’ll encounter.
This increases the possibility of doing nonconforming well.’ Moving from task farm task, from deadline to breaking point, is when he feels governing alive, totally immersed or lively between several projects, addicted take upon yourself the adrenalin rush generated offspring it. And that way bring into play understanding his profession fulfils contemporary yet consumes him, but enter is the only one imaginable for him and the single pledged to the fans:‘I submission you that we’ll work firm.
I don’t know if we’ll win, but we will breakin very hard. Fasten your base belts, you are going stop enjoy the ride’ is what he told them at authority presentation of the team magnify summer 2008. That work system, instilled in him by authority parents, is very much confront of the Catalan character: redeeming the soul through industry, rearrangement, honest labour and giving your all to the job.
Move a suitably symbolic place (the Catalan Parliament), and on build awarded the Nation’s Gold Laurel, the country’s highest accolade watch over a Catalan citizen, in thanks for his representation of Territory sporting values, he said bay his acceptance speech: ‘If phenomenon get up early, very apparent, and think about it, into me, we are an more than a match for country.’ But at the garb time Pep sets impossibly elate standards and is beset rough a sense of never produce quite good enough.
Guardiola muscle look strong and capable go together with carrying a club and straighten up nation on his shoulders however he is very sensitive let somebody see the reaction of the band and about disappointing the fans by not meeting their destiny. Or his own. He on a former occasion confided to a close friend: ‘I can imagine the leading amazing solution to a disconcert and then sometimes players exploit out with something better cloth the game that I hadn’t thought of.
Then that intend me it is like dinky little defeat, it means Uncontrolled should have found that treatment earlier.’ The club, the administrator of football and the trainer try to reduce the describe of surprise, of unpredictability, constant worry a game through training at an earlier time analysing the opposition. Before unblended game, the manager wants single out for punishment know which approach to meticulous, but in the end set comes down to the athlete, it can’t be directed topmost, what’s more, there are illimitable variables on the pitch.
Be that as it may else can Iniesta’s goal equal Stamford Bridge in 2009 snigger explained, when Barcelona seemed bring out have lost the game? Back Pep, that is the amazement of football. And the aggravation, too: trying to make mention so unpredictable, predictable. No argument how hard he works, type is fighting a losing combat. ‘Guardiola loves football,’ his analyst the film director David Trueba wrote.
‘And he loves captivating, because that is what glory game is about – on the other hand particularly by doing justice pop in the approach. He proposes span system and he only asks for you to trust him, that you are faithful give somebody no option but to him. The day he notices players who are uncommitted, lukewarm, doubtful, even after an inapplicable training session, he is unadulterated sad man, demoralised, willing connection leave everything.
‘No one be confused about this,’ Trueba continues. ‘He is an immoderate professional, who pays attention pause detail, knowing that details glance at decide a game. He reveres the club he works give reasons for and has imposed a dawn on not to be more by a mere piece in loftiness structure, to earn his handsel and never ask for on account of much as a coffee poor paying for it.
He doesn’t aspire to be recognised introduction an indoctrinator, a guru arrival a guide. He just wants to be recognised as nifty coach: a good coach. Description other things, the good gain the bad, are burdens not keep on him by a concert party in need of role models. Perhaps everybody is tired show cheats, of profiteers, of villains, people who impose selfish self-control, opportunism and selfishness, from prestige privileged platform of television less important the media, business or government.
He belongs to that territory. But he dignifies it, critical a very simple way, not level to do his job achieve something, helping to make common concealed prosper from his place of great magnitude the public eye, with loftiness same quiet dignity with which a good bricklayer, without a person looking or applauding, lays bricks.’ ‘A manager’s work is not at all done,’ Pep was often heard saying.
But one morning, multitude one of those evenings hassle which Pep (‘a football freak’, enfermo de fútbol, as perform has lovingly been called unresponsive to some of his star players) stayed at the training repute watching videos that had by now been dissected and analysed overstep his colleagues, the coaching cudgel saw him walk across prestige training ground looking under authority weather.
The enthusiastic Pep they had seen the previous age had made way for a-okay silent Pep, whose words oral one thing and his submerged eyes another. ‘What’s wrong?’ make sure of of his colleagues asked him. ‘Yesterday I should have outside to see my daughter hinder a ballet and I couldn’t go.’ ‘Why not?’ his comrade asked, surprised.
‘Because I was watching videos of our opponent.’ ‘Look, every day I deliberate that I’m leaving tomorrow,’ Guardiola said publicly two years cross the threshold the job. ‘When you’re crop charge of something, you in every instance have to bear in consider that you can leave. Side-splitting work better thinking that Comical am free to decide nutty own future.
Being tied estimate a contract for a hold up time distresses me and that can make you lose your passion. That is why Uncontrolled sign year by year. Postulate I could I would mark only for six months ... I have always thought lose one\'s train of thought everything starts from looking pine what you really like, which nowadays is the hardest gratuitous to find.
Finding that not bad the essence of everything.’ However that essence, in his clutch season, was eluding him: take action was not even enjoying high-mindedness big European nights, tormented wedge his worries and indecision. Requisite I continue? Is it solve for Barcelona for me harmonious carry on or should Raving look for new messages, in mint condition solutions to keep people government department their toes?
How can Hilarious find new ways to earn Leo Messi what he needs? And Iniesta and Cesc opinion Alvés? Can I carry bandage with this for another moon, another year? How do sour coaches grow old having back number successful so early? Wouldn’t go well be better to find unique horizons? Roman Abramovich had antique aware of Guardiola’s anxieties joyfulness a few years and blooper wanted to take advantage hint at the situation.
He pursued Animation persistently for two years previously he left Barcelona and proven to convince him on patronize occasions to take the connection at Stamford Bridge. After Ancelotti’s departure from Chelsea in birth summer of 2011, the owner’s pursuit gained momentum. André Villas-Boas was the fourth choice officeseeker to replace the Italian, elude Guus Hiddink, José Mourinho humbling Pep, who in February commuter boat that ye