Pep Guardiola has never been one to hold back his thoughts. Whether in the canoe, during a press conference or in a quiet room with a view of the Passeig de Gracia de Barcelona, the director of Manchester City is still as candid as it is intense.
In a recent interview with GQ, Guardiola spoke of his difficulties, his philosophy on football and life, and for the first time, spoke of his future plans.
Here are five key things that we learned from a fascinating sit-down with one of the greatest minds in football.
“My head said enough” – why Guardiola knows when to stop
By reflecting both on his game and coach careers, Guardiola clearly indicated that for him, the decisive factor is not a physical condition, but mental clarity.
“My career stopped when my head said enough,” he said. “I could have extended, but my head said: I am tired, I can’t do anymore. I think I knew how to stop at the right time. The same thing happened to me with my work as a coach at FC Barcelona.
“There was a time when I said enough, it’s enough. I’m going to get another challenge. When you try to push it too hard, things don’t work. But it was my head, not so much my muscles, or my knees or my feet.”
The boss of the city insists that the mental aspect of sport – and life – is “everything”.
“It is the least sought after muscle, probably due to the difficulty. But while resulting. “
This same mental approach guided his decision to leave Barcelona in 2012, and this will guide him again in the future.
A turbulent season and the lessons of failure
Guardiola did not hesitate to describe the challenges of the most difficult season of City under his watch, a campaign that saw 13-14 amazing games without victory.
However, he sees it as a necessary correction after years of premier League domination
“When you win six leading leagues, there is a time when you go down. It is human nature.
“We should probably have moved more players, but it is easy to say that afterwards. Success confuses you.
“Why? Because the accent is no longer on what you have to do. When the accent is no longer on what you have to do, you hurt yourself more.”
Despite the criticisms he faced – “I have been in each stadium outside for four or five months with the crowd, shouting:” You will be sacked in the morning ” – Guardiola says he took up the challenge.
“Listen, one thing about sport is that you cannot always win all the competitions you play. You know why? Because it’s impossible. Impossible. So you sometimes lose, well yes, that is part of the sports.”
Failure? He likes it
In a world obsessed with perfection, Guardiola finds the beauty of the loss.
“I am delighted to have failed. I love failures. In this society where everything must be perfect, where you must publish your food on Instagram …
“Oh, as I am good, how happy I am. Every day we have to prove that we are happy. Well, yes, I am sad, I fail and I lose. SO? SO? Name the one who doesn’t. The important thing is to do it, give everything and do it well. »»
For him, failing is an essential part of the process.
“I did badly, we had worse results than what I expected, but hey, the next day, there is another, and I’m going to try again. And next year, I’m going to do better. This is what it is.”
Lamine Yamal and Messi comparison
The coach born in Barcelona could not avoid questions about Lamine Yamal, the 18 -year -old Wonderkid, already praised as “the next Messi”. Guardiola was wise in his words.
“I think Lamine Yamal should be allowed to develop her career. And when he has been playing for fifteen years, we will decide if he is better or worse. Let him develop his career.
“And the fact that he is compared to Messi is a big problem … but we must let him develop his career. And we will see. “
He then added a verification of reality for those waiting for another messi.
“Messi was a big problem. 90 goals in one season for 15 years, without stop, without injury. It’s a big problem. Let him go. Let him go.”
And as for a return to Barcelona, in any capacity?
“It’s over. It’s over forever. It was very beautiful, but it’s over now.”
“I’m going to stop after this stage with City” – the future of Guardiola
Perhaps the most catchy revelation came when Guardiola addressed the question of longevity.
While some coaches remain on the touchline until they can no longer stand, Pep has already decided.
“I know that after this stage with City, I will stop, that’s for sure, it’s decided, more than decided.
“I don’t know how long I will stop, a year, two years, three years, five, ten, fifteen, I don’t know. But I’m going to stop after this stage with City, because I have to stop and focus on myself, on my body. “
He described this break as a chance to slow down:
“In Catalan, they say Badar. Badar, Badar, Badar … I want to do that, just stop and watch the cows pass when the train passes. My grandfather used to say, you look at me as cows watching the train pass. Well, that’s all, you have to stop and watch it pass. ”
Does this mean that he never coaches again? Not necessarily.
“Life will put something in front of me, and I will say: Oh, I want to do this or not? And if not, well, I will understand it. And I think my plan is as follows: Stop, stop … And then we will see.”
For all the speeches of tactics, trophies and titles, the portrait that emerges from Pep Guardiola today is a man deeply aware of his own limits, fascinated by the power of the mind, and ready, when the time comes, to leave the carousel.
Fans of the city can find comfort in the fact that its passion still burns, but the countdown has started.
When Guardiola decides that her head has had enough, football will have to get used to watching the train pass without him.
