Secret of my success... make a meal of it
PEP’S MEMORIES DRIVE HIM ON
PEP GUARDIOLA has lifted the Premier League in three of the last four seasons.
In 14 years as a coach he has now won 32 trophies – and, at the age of just 50, is closing in on Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 49.
But the Catalan believes the key to maintaining his hunger is that he refuses to be sidetracked by what he describes as the “mere statistics” of being a manager.
As Guardiola explained during an online interview with Indian cricket star Virat Kohli last season, it is the memories he is creating in Manchester that drive him.
When City ended the campaign by losing the Champions League Final to Chelsea, the man who won the European crown three times as a player and coach of Barcelona opted to kiss the silver medal that was draped around his neck.
It was a gesture designed to remind those City fans who had been devastated by the defeat in Porto that seeing their team reach club football’s showpiece occasion for the first time was still something to be savoured.
“After you have won a title and you go to take a shower, then you must already be thinking about the next target and the next achievement,” said Guardiola. “This
is what the greatest athletes and the greatest teams do. The past is the past. You win or you lose – but then you must move forward.
“But I don’t remember the titles we have won. What I remember are the moments in the locker room, the preparation for the games, going to restaurants with your mates.
“These are the best things. All the rest is just numbers and mere statistics.
“When I win a title, two days later it’s forgotten – because the people demand another one, and another one, and another one...”
Guardiola proved last season that he has more than one way of winning.
With Ruben Dias looking like a £61million bargain on his way to becoming last season’s Footballer of the Year, the Sky Blues finished top of the pile without needing a recogLaporte
nised centre-forward. Guardiola’s two previous titles at the Etihad had seen his team amass a total of 198 points.
City have just spent £100million on Jack Grealish – and will shatter the English transfer record again if Tottenham can be persuaded to sell Harry Kane.
Throw Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Ferran Torres into the mix and City’s attacking options are arguably more potent than they have ever been.
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was the club’s top scorer last season, while Fernandinho’s mastery of the dark arts is still unsurpassed at the age of 36.
John Stones’ return to form alongside Dias was so impressive that fellow defender Aymeric
spent much of the campaign on the bench, while the injury issues of £40m Nathan Ake were barely noticeable.
Kyle Walker shows no sign of slowing down, while Joao Cancelo invented a position which saw him start as a full-back before being unleashed in central midfield.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Benjamin Mendy will be contesting the left-back berth.
And when new Brazil No.1 Ederson is not providing goal assists with 50-yard passes, he is collecting enough clean sheets to retain the Golden Gloves award.
As Guardiola explained to Kohli: “There is a big confusion that people believe managers are artists and that we are the reason behind success or failure.
“The truth is far away from this. All we can do is trace a line and ask everyone to follow this path.
“When the referee starts the game, it is all about the players.”
After you win a title, you must be thinking about the next target