The second half of a new four-part Sporting Giants podcast series about Pep Guardiola has aired. bbc sound – and this book provides a fascinating insight into the second half of the all-conquering Manchester City manager's career.
The first two parts will focus on the 53-year-old's glittering career as a player and, most notably, as a manager at Barcelona.
During his four years at Camp Nou, Guardiola won 14 trophies, including three La Liga titles, two Champions League titles and two Copa del Rey titles.
But in 2012, feeling burnt out, Spaniard Guardiola made the shocking decision to quit Barcelona and head to New York after a year out of the game.
Sports Giants takes a deep dive into the star coach's sabbatical in America.
Without football – who is Pep Guardiola?
Before the trip to New York, Guardiola had not been away from the game since joining Barcelona's La Masia side at the age of 13. Therefore, he felt the need for some rest.
As well as honing his golf swing and playing cards with his family, Guardiola spent a lot of time in the classrooms at Columbia University, attending economics lectures by his friend and former Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala-y-Martín.
“He was very happy in New York,” Sarah I Martin said. “His wife and three children were also very happy. It was probably the first time in their lives that they were able to have dinner together full-time without worrying about next Sunday's game.” It would be the only year in the year.”
Sara y Martín remembers that his friend “asked a lot of questions” during class, and that Guardiola had “immense curiosity” about “things that have nothing to do with football”. said.
He said: “He was asking me questions about finances, things obviously not related to his profession.
“His main source of success is his creativity. His ability to transform his team. Without curiosity, unless you ask questions, you cannot innovate.”
Kimmich leaves Bayern Munich training with 'bad headache'
When Guardiola finally returned to the Bayern Munich game in the summer of 2013, being questioned was not an option, at least for his players.
Bayern captain Manuel Neuer spoke about Guardiola's intensity in training on the Sporting Giants podcast.
“If he can't control it, he might get furious,” explains goalkeeper Neuer.
“Sometimes he would stop training and send us to the locker room and say, 'There's no point,' because he noticed the boys' heads weren't in it.”
Neuer said Guardiola was “obsessed” with details, scolding his players if training sessions didn't suit him and telling them “if you don't want to learn, you don't want to learn.”
German journalist Rafa Honigstein tells an anecdote about Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich that illustrates Pep's strength.
“I remember Joshua Kimmich telling a colleague that he had terrible headaches at the end of every training session because there was so much to think about on the pitch.
“Half the time players didn't really understand why they had to do things like that, but eventually they realized that these things made the game easier to play. ”
“So he's coming?” – Gallagher on Guardiola
Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher explains how he knew Pep was going to the Etihad Stadium at the beginning of episode 4 of Sporting Giants, titled 'He changed the game'. Share an anecdote about what you know.
Rumors of Guardiola joining Manchester City had been circulating long before the deal was officially announced in February 2016.
“I remember going to a City match… and Txiki Begiristain, Ferran Soriano and Khaldoon Al Mubarak were standing there chatting,” he says. “He was drinking and he came up to me and said, 'So he's coming? So are you bringing Pep?'
“And the moment we knew he was coming was when we all looked at each other as if to say, 'Who told him?'
Despite leading both Barcelona and Bayern to numerous trophies (including three Bundesliga titles with the spin), Pep's first season in England ended without any achievements. Ta.
He quickly corrected his mistake and won the Premier League title the following season with a record 100 goals. It was his first of five league titles in six seasons at City.
However, Guardiola and his players were keenly aware of the Spaniard's frequent criticisms, and City missed out on Champions League qualification. over thinking.
“He's always been like that” – Gundogan talks about “Pep overthinking”
“Yeah, to be honest, I knew that,” Ilkay Gundogan said. “But if you know Pep well and know his personality, he's only thinking about the game, how he can improve the team. He's always been like that.
“So I don't think it's something he did especially for the Champions League or big games. Pep has always been like that.”
And finally, what about the idea and argument that Guardiola is the greatest of all time?
Guardiola's Begiristain says he has no doubts. “Johan Cruyff is watching us somewhere now. He won't be mad if we say Pep is the best of all time.”