A year ago
Pep Guardiola, the highly successful coach of Manchester City, shrugged off claims of being the greatest coach of all time during his team's pre-season tour in Japan. Despite leading Manchester City to an impressive treble last season, winning the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup, Guardiola remains humble and acknowledges his doubts.
He pointed out that his career has been marked by uncertainties despite achieving success with renowned clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich before joining Manchester City. Guardiola emphasized that their current achievements were unexpected, and he views each step in his coaching journey as a learning process.
Manchester City's accomplishments under Guardiola have been extraordinary, claiming seven Premier League titles since 2012, including five in the last six seasons. Their most recent achievement was securing their first-ever Champions League title by defeating Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul. However, Guardiola cautioned against complacency, reminding everyone that football is unpredictable, and success cannot be taken for granted.
As the pre-season tour commenced, Guardiola's focus was on the team's performance and development rather than dwelling on past titles. He emphasized taking things step by step and acknowledged that the upcoming transfer window could influence the team's composition.
In contrast to basking in the glory of the previous season, the manager encouraged his players to remain committed and determined to continue their progress. Defender Nathan Ake echoed Guardiola's sentiments, stressing the need to maintain a forward-looking mentality and not rest on the laurels of past achievements.
Regarding potential transfers, Guardiola spoke about Kyle Walker's reported interest from Bayern Munich. While expressing his desire for the best outcome for his players, he remained cautious and revealed that Walker's future was still uncertain. The same uncertainty applied to Joao Cancelo, who spent the previous season on loan at Bayern Munich, as Guardiola did not make any guarantees about his role in the team.
Manchester City's pre-season schedule included matches against J-League champions Yokohama F-Marinos in Tokyo and Atletico Madrid in Seoul, which were viewed as valuable opportunities for assessing the team's performance and refining their strategies.
In conclusion, Pep Guardiola's down-to-earth approach and acknowledgment of his doubts despite his impressive coaching achievements exemplify his humility and dedication to constant improvement. As Manchester City continues its pre-season tour, the focus remains on building a strong and determined team capable of facing future challenges and maintaining their competitive edge in the football world.
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