- Manchester City’s Guardiola’s coaching journey was shaped by his playing days at Barcelona and lessons from Juanma Lillo
- The Spaniard’s tactical philosophy has influenced top managers like Xabi Alonso, Arteta, Kompany, and Xavi
- As he nears a decade at Man City, Guardiola looks back with pride at his impact on football
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola took a moment to reflect on the incredible managerial legacy he had built over the years, acknowledging the influence of his mentor, Johan Cruyff.
The Manchester City boss admitted that he missed Cruyff "so much" and often thought about the advice he could have sought from the Dutch visionary.
Guardiola’s coaching journey had its foundations in his playing career at Barcelona, where he had the privilege of learning from Cruyff.
His education continued through various experiences, including working under Juanma Lillo, his current assistant at Manchester City, during his brief stint at Dorados in Mexico. These learnings shaped his managerial approach, leading to success at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and now City.
Beyond his triumphs, Guardiola had played a key role in shaping the next generation of top managers.
Many of his former players and staff had gone on to establish themselves as leading coaches, including Vincent Kompany, Xabi Alonso, Luis Enrique, Enzo Maresca, Xavi, Erik ten Hag, and Mikel Arteta. He expressed pride in their achievements, emphasising that their success stemmed from their own talent, vision, and passion for the game,
"They are so good!"
Guardiola remarked when asked about why so many of his former players had flourished in management. He acknowledged that they had learned and practiced new ideas, much like he had done at the start of his coaching career.
Guardiola stated the strong bonds he had formed with these individuals, especially with Luis Enrique, with whom he shared memorable triumphs in Spain.
He described them as not just colleagues but close friends, adding that their success brought him immense happiness.
When asked whether these rising managers still sought his guidance, Guardiola humorously dismissed the claim, saying they "knew everything already and helped me a lot."
However, he admitted that he still often thought about Cruyff and what he would have asked him, lamenting that the Dutch legend had left too soon.
As Guardiola approaches a decade at Manchester City, he looks back on his career with gratitude, acknowledging those who had influenced him and those he had impacted.
His legacy, built on tactical brilliance and a relentless pursuit of excellence, is now being carried forward by a new generation of managers.
“We had good moments, but...,” Guardiola laments Man City’s chances against Aston Villa
Previously, TheRadar reported that Premier League champions Manchester City’s alarming dip in form continued as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park, leaving Pep Guardiola searching for answers.
Despite another disappointing result, Guardiola defended his team’s performance, emphasising glimpses of quality but admitting their struggles to convert opportunities proved costly.
