“Ferran Soriano, who said privately at the time: ‘The Mourinho brand, added to the Barça brand, has the potential to make our… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Guardiola told me that if there is a hint of disharmony within the group he removes it, as he did with Eto’o… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Pep organised his attack (creating the conditions for one v ones, or looking for superiority across the pitch) in a way that… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“The players who go through La Masía are taught to behave with civility and humility. The theory being that, not only is… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Football was his passion, his obsession, the thing he knew best, and Serie A was considered the league that practised the most… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“He became as demanding of himself as he was with his players and staff but, in everything he did, he always made… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“On the field of play, in the heat of the action, it enabled Guardiola’s Barcelona to switch formations or positions as many… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“(the difference between a good and bad footballer, according to Cruyff, is how well you control the ball and where you place… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“The senior players, meanwhile, understood perfectly well, and as one recognised: ‘He always used us as an example, but he was always… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Discover constantly where the free man is and through passing, passing, passing, work the ball into forward positions.’ The high technical quality… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Guardiola signed for Roma in the summer of 2002, motivated less by the opportunity to play for a bigger club than to… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Under Cruyff, dominating the ball became the first and most important rule. ‘If you have the ball, the opposition doesn’t have it… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“The coach sat down with president Laporta, Beguiristain and Estiarte in the suite of the hotel in which the team were staying… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Before heading out on to the pitch, Johan Cruyff gave his players a simple instruction: ‘Go out there and enjoy yourselves.’ It… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Guardiola would ring him to express his doubts to him, whether they be about the use of space by his players or… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Johan, who imposed the criteria for quick movements of the ball, the obligation to open up the field in order to find… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“I’ve got a problem,’ he told his mentor. ‘I’ve got these two guys who I don’t know if I can control, they… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Guardiola knows it is easier to work with a group hungry for victory rather than with one that has won everything, and… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“place an emphasis on preparation and player recuperation; maintain discipline in the dressing room while being respectful of all opponents and possess… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“We have to transmit trust and security in all the decisions we make. ‘That trust, security and sincerity are the fundamental pillars… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“his leadership skills must not be forgotten either; as it soon became evident in his playing career; he didn’t just pass the… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“He was also excited about the prospects of working with Raheem Sterling. Pep had no say in his signing but Sterling was… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“He cleansed the dressing room of players who were uncommitted and oblivious of the club’s core values: prioritising good football and hard… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“Pep used to feel unprepared when it came to certain topics like defensive concepts or particular training methodologies. When he needed answers… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“On the way to the tiny Los Pajaritos stadium (capacity just 9,025), Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida’ blared from the speakers on the… — Guillem Balague Copy Share Image
“The German team became more German than ever. They used in their performance the ‘Mia San Mia’ motto that the players wear on their… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“Before heading out on to the pitch, Johan Cruyff gave his players a simple instruction: ‘Go out there and enjoy yourselves.’ It was a… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“Ronaldo also dropped deep to receive the ball, turn round and run towards goal – and he always found space as the centre backs… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“It is better for a player to lose the ball when he is dribbling, feeling over-confident, than for a blunder, a mistake due to… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“We have to transmit trust and security in all the decisions we make. ‘That trust, security and sincerity are the fundamental pillars for a… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“On one occasion Guardiola explained that there are two types of coaches: those who think problems solve themselves and those who solve problems. Guardiola… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“He could live with them playing badly now and again, he told them, but he demanded 100 per cent on the pitch in every… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“The coach sat down with president Laporta, Beguiristain and Estiarte in the suite of the hotel in which the team were staying in the… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“Failure is when a player does not have a good training session, when the coach relaxes and stops caring, when the team doesn’t care… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“Ingla and Txiki set out a plan for the rest of the season which saw them working and consulting simultaneously with both Rijkaard and… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“Searching for that flash of inspiration, that moment, the magical moment: ‘I’ve got it. I’ve got it. This is how we are going to… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“The players who go through La Masía are taught to behave with civility and humility. The theory being that, not only is it pleasant… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“In future they must place themselves more cleverly to receive the pass, and to start pressuring their opponents more quickly.” — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“I saw Guardiola as a mystical type of person. The way he dressed – always in black – he was sometimes very quiet, constantly… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
“What you can’t do is study the talks, learn them by heart. Two or three concepts are all you need . . . and then you… — Guillem Balague Copy Share
