8 of the best Pep Guardiola quotes

Pep Guardiola is widely considered one of the biggest football managers of all time.

Not only has he won an unprecedented number of titles in Spain, Germany and England, but Spanish has also revolutionized modern football with his distinct style of play which emphasizes possession, rapid passage and tactical fluidity. Guardiola’s influence has left an indelible mark on sport, shaping how the game is played today.

However, it was not only his brilliant coach who captivated the world of football.

Like his former rival Jürgen Klopp and former coach José Mourinho, the former boss of Barcelona and Bayern Munich is also known for his remarks of mind and net, which makes him a constant source of entertainment for fans.

Some of his quotes were born from pure joy, while others arise from moments of frustration – but whatever the emotion behind them, they always manage to leave a lasting impact.

Here are some of the best quotes from Pep Guardiola.

1

“It rains every day”

Manchester City of Guardiola had faced a relatively difficult start in the 2020/21 season, especially in difficulty in front of the goal.

However, after a 4-1 demolition of Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup in December 2020, Guardiola was naturally satisfied.

Despite the categorical victory, however, he was not ready to claim that his team had fully found their shape. Instead, he compared their performance with unpredictable time to Manchester.

“It’s like in Manchester. It rains every day. When one day the sun rises, it does not mean that time will change,” He said. “This is just a match, but we will see what will happen in the future.”

After Manchester City won the triples during the 2022/23 season, Guardiola once again referred to the unpredictable time of the city during his speech during the club’s victory parade, on which the heavens were opened.

“We had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise it’s not Manchester”, ” He said. “We don’t want the sun, we want rain, so it was perfect.”

2

“Like a jazz musician …”

Guardiola is renowned for the creation of teams that work as a fluid unit, where each player contributes to the defense and attacks to form an unstoppable football force. Even the incomparable Lionel Messi, although he gave more freedom than most, was not exempt from philosophy in the Guardiola team.

In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Guardiola humorly summed up his attitude towards individualism in his teams with a hilarious joke on jazz music.

“In some parts of the field, you must of course be creative and take the risk,” he said. “But I don’t like it when people say:” I like freedom; I want to play for myself. “Because the player must understand that he is part of a team, with 10 other players.

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3

“I got better contracts”

Speaking of Messi, Guardiola has always showered the Argentinian of praise, calling the greatest footballer of all time several times.

However, perhaps the most memorable and funny compliment came in 2022, when, In an interview with Telemundo Deportes, He compared Messi – who scored 211 goals in 219 games under Guardiola in Barcelona – to the legend of the NBA Michael Jordan, and also took the opportunity to thank him for the significant impact he had on his career and his bank account.

“For me, Messi is everything in my career and he made me more competitive,” said Guardiola. “Without him, we would have won [trophies]But not as much. I compare Messi with Michael Jordan when Phil Jackson could feel what it was to have the best player and he won six [NBA championship] rings. I also won because it made it easier. “”

He added: “I always owe him a bottle of wine because thanks to him, I got better contracts.”

4

“All alcohol in Manchester”

While Guardiola is undoubtedly a stickler to succeed, he also knows how to let his players enjoy the fruits of their work.

In May 2023, City was confirmed as Premier League champion for a third consecutive year after Arsenal lost 1-0 against Nottingham Forest. The next day, City beat Chelsea, raising the trophy of the Premier League and collecting their medals to celebrate.

However, before their next trip to Brighton & Hove Albion three days later, the Guardiola team took the time to knees. Photos emerged from the team enjoying an evening in a nightclub, Soak at the time after their hard -won title.

City played a 1-1 draw on the southern coast, and Guardiola praised the performance of his team, in particular given the celebrations they had appreciated since the weekend.

“The match we played, 40 hours after I think we drank all the alcohol in Manchester, 40 hours later, we comply and we have shown why we are the champions,” he told Sky Sports after the match.

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5

“I won’t leave”

Since he took charge of Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola transformed the club of a talented but incoherent team to the most dominant force in European football.

Thus, when the club was struck by 115 charges for alleged violations of financial rules in February 2023 and rumors began to circulate that City could face relegation as punishment, fans feared that Guardiola did not know.

However, approaching the issue in November, Guardiola reassured the supporters by declaring that he was fully attached to the club, regardless of the results of the accusations.

“I will not consider my future [if] it depends [on] Be here or be in Ligue 1, ” He said. “There is more chance of staying if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League. What people accuse us of – we do not agree with what they say.”

“We will defend [ourselves] And once the resolution is completed, I will be there, like a spokesperson for my club, “he added.

6

“Everyone in this country supports Liverpool”

For a large part of his time as Manchester City pattern, the main rivals of Guardiola were Liverpool, the Reds constantly going aside with City for the title of Premier League and other great honors.

In May 2022, the two teams were again locked in a fierce battle for the title, with Jurgen Klopp of Guardiola goalkeeper by only one point with only four games to play.

After City defeated Newcastle United 5-0 to move to the three title victories, Guardiola took a not so subtle excavation in Liverpool, suggesting that the general public preferred to see them win the title on his team.

“Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone”, ” He said to Bein Sports. “Of course, because Liverpool has an incredible story in European competition. Not in the Premier League, because they have won one in 30 years, but it’s not a problem at all.”

7

“We cannot replace it”

One of Guardiola’s most emotional moments came in May 2021, when he could not retain tears when he paid tribute to the legend of Club Sergio Agüero after his penultimate match for Manchester City.

Agüero came out of the bench to score twice while City, already the Premier League champion, beat Everton 5-0 at the Etihad stadium in what was a goodbye.

“We love it so much, it is a special person for all of us,” said Guardiola about Agüero, who won five Premier League titles during his stay in Manchester.

When asked how the club planned to replace him, Guardiola, with tears running on his face, gave what has since become a memorable quote: “We cannot replace it. We cannot.”

8

“Good year”

Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes, Guardiola lets his emotions prevail over him, unleashing himself on anyone who is on his way – whether he is a referee, a player or even the replacement bench, that he gave a good kick during the city draw with Arsenal in September 2024.

On occasion, he also lost his composure with journalists, just as he did with Damian Johnson by BBC Sport in 2017 following a hard victory fought 2-1 against Burnley, where Fernandinho was sent after 32 minutes for a two-foot challenge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Despite his team, Guardiola was visibly frustrated and found himself involved in a tense exchangegiving a series of short and sudden responses.

Asked about his point of view on Fernandinho’s red card, he replied: “You are the journalist. Not me.”

Johnson replied: “You are the manager. I am sure that fans would like to know”, to which Guardiola retred up: “ask the referee, not me.”

After having insinuated that the interpretation of the rules was different in Spain and Germany that in England, Johnson commented: “You do not seem so happy that you have won.”

Guardiola’s response has since become an internet: “More than you would believe. The more you would believe it, I am happy.

“I’m so happy, believe me. I’m so happy. Happy New Year.”