I knew he was good but not THAT good
Bielsa is still stunned by how great Pep’s ‘best team in history’ became
LEEDS UTD v MAN CITY
MARCELO BIELSA never imagined Pep Guardiola would create “the best team in history” at Barcelona when he first met him.
Guardiola was winding down his playing career with Mexican side Dorados de Sinaloa when he travelled 5000 miles for an audience with Bielsa at his ranch in Argentina in 2006.
They spent 11 hours talking football, using chairs to act out moves and Bielsa’s computer to Google answers to settle arguments.
The meeting confirmed Guardiola’s ambition to become a coach, even though Bielsa warned it would cost him “blood”. Although he was struck by Guardiola’s passion as they talked, he never thought he would have such a glittering career as a coach.
“Who could have imagined he could have been so successful?” said the Leeds head coach. “Nobody could have said this person, as intelligent as he is, is going to create the best football team in the world. We spoke about football and what we spoke about made me think he was someone who really thought about football.”
Bielsa experienced at first hand how good Barca were under Guardiola when he took over Athletic Bilbao in 2011.
Their last meeting was in the 2012 Copa del Rey Final when Barcelona scored three in the first 25 minutes to win 3-0 in Guardiola’s last game in charge and Bielsa remembers they were almost impossible to play against.
“Barcelona managed to neutralise our attempts to impose ourselves,” he said.
“Anyone who faced Barcelona in those four years, everyone would probably give you the same answer.
“There are many people who think that was probably the best team in history.”
The pair will be reunited at Elland Road this evening and Guardiola claims he still has some way to go to match the stature of Bielsa in the game.
City’s boss has often spoken of how he has regarded the veteran Argentinian coach as an inspiration throughout his career.
“He is probably the person I admire the most in world football – as a manager and as a person,” said Guardiola.
“I think he is the most authentic manager all the time, in terms of how he conducts his teams, he is unique. Nobody can imitate him, it’s impossible, especially his behaviour as a person off the pitch.
“When I get the pleasure to spend time with him, it’s always inspirational for me.”