Pep Guardiola arrived in England ready to prove himself to a doubting minority - telling Manchester City fans to fasten their seatbelts.
The 45-year-old admitted to being 'nervous' before his first media appearance as Manuel Pellegrini's successor, but confidently addressed the big issues, including his rivalry with Jose Mourinho.
Guardiola was calm, keen to stress he is here in England to show his style can conquer in the Premier League as well as La Liga and the Bundesliga.
Asked whether he can earn results playing in a similar tactical vein to that of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola said:
'That's why I'm here, to prove myself. I was in Barcelona where I had absolutely everything, the best player ever, and a team where most of the players grew up from the academy so I knew them.
‘Bayern Munich, a club who have a lot of experience as well for many, many things. Here is another test for my career. It would've been comfortable to stay where I was, I feel that it is the right moment to come here and prove myself.
‘If I'm able to convince these players the way we want, and show a level at the end then we'll see. Fasten your seat belt for the other side of the car.’
Guardiola sought counsel from Mikel Arteta, and more significantly Brian Kidd, during his first week at the City Football Academy.
The Catalan is primed for aggression in the Premier League, appeared to be relishing the prospect of the festive period - twice referencing the Boxing Day schedule - and was buoyant about the challenge ahead.
‘I think [in] my career, always the people are going to demand of my teams,’ Guardiola added. ‘The way we are going to train to try to win as much as possible. At the end that is good.
‘It's better to live with that pressure than to live “okay, if we win it's okay, if we don't win it's okay as well”.
'I think it's going to be more physical. Some say it's not as attractive but I can't say that. Kidd knows the club perfectly. He's getting me to know the players.
‘Arteta knows English football. I need to learn and understand. I've brought people from Barca and Bayern - I know their abilities.
'Every stage has been a big challenge. It could be the biggest because City haven't won as many titles but I don't know. We depend on the players and they depend on us as well.
'You’ve got to adapt to the country in which you’re in, it was the same in Germany. These players have played all over the place. They've got to qualify for the Champions League.
‘It’s a case of trying to maintain the level that’s been set at this club and try that every match they go into they make it difficult for the opposition and play for the shirt.
Guardiola - who is desperate for 'magnificent' captain Vincent Kompany to get over his injury problems - struck the same chord as Mourinho when asked about their rivalry.
‘It's not about him or about me,’ he said. ‘We are focused between each other. The other one is going to win. What I saw from a distance it's no matter the team, it's so tough win the games here. I will improve myself, I'm pretty sure of that.
‘The big coaches, Jose is one them, help me reach another level. My experience against him, against Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel and a lot of managers in Spain and England, they've made me better. Of course all the managers in the world want to win and here we are going to try to win as well.
‘I don't know why the other coaches came here. I came as a player two or three times and was taken by the atmosphere, we said "wow, it's pretty good",' he added.
'I never went to stadiums when it's freezing and windy. Not on Boxing Day. That's why it's a personal ambition to prove myself. Maybe with the others it was the same.'
Guardiola was calm, keen to stress he is here in England to show his style can conquer in the Premier League as well as La Liga and the Bundesliga.
Asked whether he can earn results playing in a similar tactical vein to that of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola said:
'That's why I'm here, to prove myself. I was in Barcelona where I had absolutely everything, the best player ever, and a team where most of the players grew up from the academy so I knew them.
‘Bayern Munich, a club who have a lot of experience as well for many, many things. Here is another test for my career. It would've been comfortable to stay where I was, I feel that it is the right moment to come here and prove myself.
‘If I'm able to convince these players the way we want, and show a level at the end then we'll see. Fasten your seat belt for the other side of the car.’
Guardiola sought counsel from Mikel Arteta, and more significantly Brian Kidd, during his first week at the City Football Academy.
The Catalan is primed for aggression in the Premier League, appeared to be relishing the prospect of the festive period - twice referencing the Boxing Day schedule - and was buoyant about the challenge ahead.
‘I think [in] my career, always the people are going to demand of my teams,’ Guardiola added. ‘The way we are going to train to try to win as much as possible. At the end that is good.
‘It's better to live with that pressure than to live “okay, if we win it's okay, if we don't win it's okay as well”.
'I think it's going to be more physical. Some say it's not as attractive but I can't say that. Kidd knows the club perfectly. He's getting me to know the players.
‘Arteta knows English football. I need to learn and understand. I've brought people from Barca and Bayern - I know their abilities.
'Every stage has been a big challenge. It could be the biggest because City haven't won as many titles but I don't know. We depend on the players and they depend on us as well.
'You’ve got to adapt to the country in which you’re in, it was the same in Germany. These players have played all over the place. They've got to qualify for the Champions League.
‘It’s a case of trying to maintain the level that’s been set at this club and try that every match they go into they make it difficult for the opposition and play for the shirt.
Guardiola - who is desperate for 'magnificent' captain Vincent Kompany to get over his injury problems - struck the same chord as Mourinho when asked about their rivalry.
‘It's not about him or about me,’ he said. ‘We are focused between each other. The other one is going to win. What I saw from a distance it's no matter the team, it's so tough win the games here. I will improve myself, I'm pretty sure of that.
‘The big coaches, Jose is one them, help me reach another level. My experience against him, against Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel and a lot of managers in Spain and England, they've made me better. Of course all the managers in the world want to win and here we are going to try to win as well.
'I never went to stadiums when it's freezing and windy. Not on Boxing Day. That's why it's a personal ambition to prove myself. Maybe with the others it was the same.'
No comments:
Post a Comment