EXCEPTIONAL ONE
Pep: Yes, I’m different…it’s normal not to win titles
PEP GUARDIOLA has surpassed even Jose Mourinho by presenting himself as the ‘The Exceptional One’ and says criticism of his first season at Manchester City is due to the standards he set earlier in his managerial career.
Guardiola, in fighting mood ahead of today’s clash with Liverpool after a bruising midweek Champions League exit in Monaco, highlighted the fact that he has not broken the bank to sign one player, unlike Mourinho, who paid a world record £89.3million for Paul Pogba.
Like his fellow Galactico coach Mourinho — who called himself The Special One in 2004 at Chelsea — Guardiola is felt to have underachieved this season since replacing Manuel Pellegrini. But the Spaniard, 46, argues he is being unfairly judged by past achievements, when he won the Treble in his first season at Barcelona in 2009 and four trophies with Bayern Munich in 2013-14, including the Bundesliga and Club World Cup. He has never failed to win at least one piece of silverware in every season of his managerial career so far.
‘Other managers in the world sometimes don’t win titles in a season,’ said Guardiola.
‘That is the normal situation all around the world. The exception is my career. I’m sorry but that is exceptional.
‘We want to win titles. We fight for that, we play for that. I didn’t come here just to have fun and play good. But people believe Pep is sitting here so now they are going to win the title, easy. You are wrong.
‘I never said we are going to win one title, or the Double or Treble. I promised a lot of work. Few guys can beat me at that and I am so proud of that. Be assured they [players] are going to play the way I want. The only power I have is this.’
Guardiola has spent £170m since replacing Pellegrini and promised more changes in the summer with seven players out of contract and others like Samir Nasri on loan.
But he argues his methods are different to managers who buy established superstars for record fees, as United did with Pogba.
‘Teams around the world spend a lot of money, not just Manchester City,’ he explained. ‘We spent a lot of money but other teams around the world spend £80m, £100m for one player, not just the team.
‘Next season, Chelsea are going to buy, Tottenham will buy, United, Barcelona, Juventus, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich — all the teams. It is so tough in that competition. I was there more times than you.’ Perfectionist Guardiola has spent the past few days berating himself about why his players didn’t carry out his instructions in Monaco, particularly in the first half as their 5-3 first-leg lead evaporated and the French league leaders went 2-0 up. Monaco won 3-1 to progress into the quarter-finals on away goals.
‘I am fully responsible,’ he said. ‘If you ask me about the first half, I am not so happy. The second half showed me that when you attack and are more aggressive, you concede fewer goals. When you stand off, you concede.’
It’s clear Guardiola will not change his philosophy for the Liverpool fixture, a vitally important one given that Jurgen Klopp’s men are only a point behind City.
City can still win the FA Cup but a top-four finish is their only route into next season’s Champions League and to miss out would be unthinkable for Sheikh Mansour, who coveted Guardiola for years.
The Monaco game underlined how much midfield playmaker Ilkay Gundogan — Guardiola’s priority signing — has been missed since his long-term knee injury.
Klopp has increased the pressure on Guardiola by saying that the Premier League is a far tougher battleground than Spain or Germany where he’d enjoyed success.
The pair were rivals in Germany as respective managers of the leading clubs Bayern and Borussia Dortmund and Klopp has the better head-to-head record including a 1-0 Anfield win on New Year’s Eve.
‘Because he beat me, I don’t think he’s better than me,’ said Guardiola. ‘I came here because I was at two fantastic clubs with an amazing structure and power. I judge a manager by asking if it’s better now than before.
‘Always you can do better. That’s why I’m confident next season will be better.’