Guardiola admits he’s scared to lose

– Pep Guardiola has revealed that fear of failure has been the driving force behind his spectacular success at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now Manchester City as he prepares for the new campaign.

The 47-year-old will start the new Premier League season aiming to become the first manager since Sir Alex Ferguson in 2009 to retain the biggest prize in English club football.

The record books are on Guardiola’s side, with the City manager having won three consecutive titles at each of his previous clubs, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

But in an intriguing insight into what drives him on, Guardiola has explained how it is the fear of losing, rather than the joy of winning, that motivates him.

“I am ready, I am ready,” said Guardiola of City’s title defence. “From my point of view, the players don’t have to be worried. I am ready to fight again.

“The fear to lose the games makes me starving and hungry again. I don’t like the feeling to lose games.”

Guardiola has not always looked so at ease, and been so forthright and honest, before the English media – a fact that makes the forthcoming fly-on-the-wall documentary chronicling City’s spectacular title-winning season eagerly anticipated.

In one excerpt, already leaked on the internet, Guardiola is seen berating his players, telling them “sometimes you play better when you hate me”.

Guardiola certainly appears to have struck up strong working relationships with a number of key players, among them England forward Raheem Sterling, who found himself the centre of fevered debate over the summer for his displays at the World Cup.

Sterling has declined a new contract offer from City, meaning he enters the new campaign with only two years left on his existing deal. In addition, City have spent a club-record £60 million on Riyad Mahrez from Leicester, a player who could be a natural long-term replacement for Sterling.

Guardiola, however, insists the impasse will not influence his team selection.

“No, it won’t,” said Guardiola. “There is no doubt we want him. He knows that, his agent knows that.” – AFP