Pep Guardiola has said he took charge of Manchester
City to prove he can deliver beautiful football in the
Premier League.
Guardiola established a reputation for the quality of
his football during his time in charge of Barcelona
and Bayern Munich and won trophies including two
Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and three
Bundesliga titles.
Upon taking charge of Barca’s senior side in 2008
after a year with the B team, he had said at his first
news conference at the Camp Nou: “I don’t know if
we’ll win, but we’ll persist. Fasten your seatbelts —
you are going to enjoy the ride.”
Asked what message he would send to the City fans,
he joked: “Fasten your seatbelts — for the other side
of the car.”
However, Guardiola accepts he is facing a new
challenge in the Premier League.
He had already said after announcing his departure
from Bayern in the winter that he was leaving because
he wanted to test himself in England.
Asked whether he would be able to implement his
trademark playing style week in, week out, in the
more physical Premier League, he replied: “That’s why
I’m here. To prove. To prove myself that I can adapt.”
He highlighted the fact that in 2012 he had walked
away from Barca “where I had virtually everything, the
best player ever,” and then left Bayern, who had won
four league titles in succession.
“Here is another test for my career. It would have
been comfortable to stay where I was but I feel this is
the right moment to move here,” he said.
He said he did not know whether it was the toughest
task he had faced in his career but accepts that,
having previously taken charge of clubs that are able
to dominate their leagues, it could be tougher.
“I know how difficult it is here in England — to find a
team to win four, five, six games in a row is not
easy,” he said. “Maybe that’s the challenge.”
He also has very limited experience of English
football and, looking ahead to his first Premier
League fixture against Sunderland on Aug. 13, said: “I
will need a bit of time to discover what style of play it
is here.
“I think it will be more physical. People say it’s not as
attractive but I can’t say that. Hopefully later in the
season I will be able to explain a bit better.
“I never played one game in the Premier League but I
am pretty sure it will be different to Germany or
Spain.
“Against Sunderland, against Big Sam [Allardyce], in
the first one, I am sure it will be completely
different.”
Former Everton and Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta
has joined City’s coaching staff while Brian Kidd has
stayed on as an assistant coach, and Guardiola said
they should be able to give him some insight.
“I’ll talk to Brian Kidd and Arteta to learn more,” he
said. Kidd is helping me get to know the players.
Arteta is one of the best midfielders there’s been and
he knows English football.”
