Josep Guardiola is one of the most respected and prominent coaches in the history of world football. Throughout his career, he has been known for winning multiple titles, but also for his statements.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City have been fortunate to be coached by Guardiola. The former Barcelona midfielder has had a remarkable career and is known for his success and his self-confidence and self-esteem when speaking to the press. The weight of his words creates a new tactical paradigm in soccer.
1- Guardiola's unique style of play is commonly referred to as tiki-taka due to its numerous passes and emphasis on ball possession. The coach confessed that he hates that label for his tactic.
"I hate 'tiki-taka.' I hate it. Tiki-taka is just passing the ball for the sake of passing, without any intention. And that serves no purpose. Don’t believe what they say: Barça had nothing to do with tiki-taka! That's a myth! Don't listen to it!"
2- These words were said by Guardiola before the Champions League final, before Barcelona's victory over Manchester United in the 2009 edition of the continental European tournament.
"If we lose, we'll still be the best team in the world, but if we win, we'll be eternal."
3- Guardiola has always been a coach aware of the context surrounding football. From that perspective, he mentions the fundamentals of his role.
""Football is a business that consists of winning the game when the referee blows the whistle and the match begins. Beyond that, whether we are more or less friends."
4- Guardiola managed Lionel Messi from 2008 to 2012 at Barcelona. Pep and the Argentine won 14 titles together, including two UEFA Champions League trophies. The Spanish coach has always praised the current Inter Miami player, even going so far as to consider him the best in history.
"Messi is the best player we have ever seen, and I believe he will be the best player we will ever see."
5- Guardiola analyzed the relationship between the coach and his players, highlighting a very interesting concept of closeness.
"Throughout the seasons, relationships with players always leave scars, but also a lot of learning. Some players deserve to have a close relationship, while others a more distant one."
6- On many occasions, Guardiola has been criticized for the lack of efficiency of his clubs about the high budget of the squads he manages. Subject to high expectations, the coach has responded to this criticism.
"Of course, I would love to do everything at 200 kilometers per hour and score 200 goals in ten minutes, but that is impossible. I prefer a more measured game, not slow, so that at the right moment, we can better utilize the players' abilities"
7- What does Guardiola ask of his players to achieve so much success? Nothing special.
"I don’t ask anything special from the players. Just that they do what they know and be bold. Without boldness, you can’t win important matches."
8- The reason to play football is to score goals. To achieve that, Guardiola explains, you need to weaken the opponent.
"The intention is not to move the ball, but to move the opponent."
9- A coach of Guardiola's caliber could be the star of any club, even above the players. However, the Spanish coach has always been clear about his role and positioned his teams as the true main characters of the game.
"Football belongs to the players. We must never forget that."
10- The Manchester City coach admitted the best way to build teamwork.
"If there isn't a good sequence of at least 15 passes, it's impossible to have a good transition between defense and attack. Completely impossible."
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