Guardiola: one year later

 
It was just one short year ago that Josep Guardiola was introduced as the new first team manager. At the time he made a series of promises to the fans that he has fulfilled to the letter.
On 17th June 2008, Josep Guardiola was presented to the world in the Paris Room of the Camp Nou as the new head coach of FC Barcelona. Flanked by Club president Joan Laporta and director of football Txiki Begiristain, Guardiola promised the fans “hard work, effort and talent”.

Looking back at his statements after the best season in the history of the Club, his words take on a special significance.

“I feel I won’t let you down. I feel that I’m ready. If I didn’t feel that I was ready I wouldn’t be sitting here in front of you”.

Despite it being his very first season coaching in the first division and in charge of the senior squad, Josep Guardiola, a Barça man through and through who understands the special mentality of the Club, has taken the team to its best ever season. Right from day one he has succeeded in transmitting his footballing philosophy and has worked tirelessly to reach the desired objectives. The players have believed in him and have responded accordingly.

“I believe strongly in hard work, effort and talent”

In January, Guardiola moved the training sessions to the Joan Gamper, Sports Centre, which was equipped to cover all the requirements of the squad. He has motivated the players and managed the squad impeccably at every stage of the season. “I’ll forgive them if they fail but not if they don’t put in the effort”. It’s been obvious that the players have given him 100% and never accepted defeat at any moment, making a number of spectacular comebacks and never ceasing to attack even when leading.

“I believe there’s absolutely nothing to complain about this squad”.

At every press conference, Guardiola has insisted that he has an exceptional group of players, all of them with great talent. Nobody could have made a better job of combining home-grown talent with stars brought in from outside the Club, rotating his line-ups as required. He has used a total of 32 players, nine of whom have made their first team debuts. All of them have performed to perfection.

“I can’t do this on my own. I’m not capable. I need my people”.

Guardiola has been characterized by humility right from the beginning. He has never been carried away by the praise heaped on him and has transmitted the same attitude to his players. In addition he has always emphasized the important of unity in the group, from the most junior player to each and every one of his coaching staff. He has constantly acknowledged the contribution of his assistants and divided the credit among them all.

“It’ll be very hard but believe me, I will persist to the end. Right to the very end I’ll be there to go forward. It’s very difficult but at the same time very gratifying”.

Despite a shaky start – a defeat away to Numancia and a draw in the Camp Nou against Racing - Guardiola has kept faith in his players who have returned the compliment by giving him 100% in every single match. A series of setbacks, especially on the injury front in the final stages of the season, have not prevented the team from achieving an historic treble.

“I’d like to promise titles but that would be a huge mistake. Nobody can do that and least of all a coach”.

Guardiola has never fallen into the trap of taking anything for granted. Once again his humility has led him to do his talking on the pitch, taking each game as the most important. At the same time he has taught the players to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

“I have the feeling that people will be proud of us. I’m convinced of it. We’ll have a year when everyone will enjoy themselves”.

Barça fans have been enchanted by the performances of the team. They have given the players their full support both in terms of attendance at the matches and also at the celebration of the three titles in the Camp Nou. A packed stadium at the big matches, the title celebrations, the thousands lining the streets of Barcelona… these are the best examples. At the same time, the whole of Europe has eulogized the superb football practised by the team.

“You’ll see a team that respects a way of playing, a footballing philosophy”.

Josep Guardiola has committed himself to attacking football, saying on many occasions: “I can’t understand football in any other way”. He has forged a team where the forwards must be capable of becoming the best defenders and vice versa.