Pep Guardiola insists he is a ‘BETTER manager’ at Manchester City than he was in his Barcelona heyday ahead of Liverpool clash… revealing he was ‘more anxious’ and ‘sensitive’ back then
- Pep Guardiola said he is a ‘better manager’ at Manchester City than at Barcelona
- Guardiola won an astonishing 14 trophies in his four years with Barca, including two Champions League
- But the Spaniard said he was ‘more anxious’ and ‘sensitive’ then than he is now
- Guardiola said managers have to remain ‘scared’ so they don’t become ‘lazy’
Pep Guardiola claims he is a better manager now at Manchester City than he was during his trophy-laden reign at Barcelona, when he admitted he was ‘more anxious’ about the job.
Guardiola’s City take on Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Sunday in a match widely regarded as the title decider for this Premier League season. City sit top of the table but are just one point ahead of the Reds.
Guardiola is no stranger to the pressure that comes with managing one of the best clubs in the world, but while he is yet to taste same success with City as he has with Barca, the Spaniard insists he’s better at the job now.
Pep Guardiola insists he is a better manager at Manchester City than he was at Barcelona
Guardiola’s Barcelona team is widely regarded as one of the greatest club teams ever to play
‘When I was in my early years in Barcelona, I was more anxious about everything, more sensitive for everything,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘Now I handle situations a little bit more calmer.
‘I’ve learnt a lot at City. I’m a completely different manager and I feel I’m a better manager than when I started out because of the experiences.’
Guardiola is hailed for producing one of the greatest teams of all time in his first foray into management at Barca. During his four seasons in charge the team won 14 trophies, including three LaLiga championships and two Champions League titles.
Guardiola has won 10 trophies during his six years at City, but still no Champions League title
European glory has continued to evade Guardiola at City, where he has won 10 trophies including three Premier League titles but no Champions Leagues.
The Spaniard’s interim years at Bayern Munich are viewed as his least successful, but he claims the experiences of managing in three different leagues have improved him overall.
‘In Germany and Spain and now here, it’s been completely different challenges,’ Guardiola said. ‘I would say that that’s nice otherwise it would be so boring doing the same thing.’
The City boss has often been accused of overthinking his tactics in crucial games which he has gone on to lose, especially in the Champions League.
Guardiola won 14 trophies in his four years at Barca, including two Champions League titles
But Guardiola was adamant that ‘evolution’ is vital for managers to improve and new ideas must be tried otherwise things become stale and boring.
‘You can’t have the same ideas of 12 or 13 years ago, you become lazy, and you are not scared,’ he said. ‘You don’t have the intuition or the desire to think “oh, maybe we do it like that” even though maybe it will be a mistake.
‘Always you have to make some evolution during the process. Evolution, you do it to try to have success, yes – but especially, so you don’t get bored all the time doing the same at the end.
‘Life is about experiences and learning to improve different things.’
Advertisement
