Pep Guardiola isn’t planning to leave Manchester City anytime soon, but he’s definitely thought about what it would be like to manage a national team. You know, leading a squad in big tournaments like the World Cup, Euros, or Copa America has crossed his mind.
“I would love to be part of a World Cup, a Euro, or a Copa America,” he told Reuters. “I've always thought about it. But, hey, it depends on a lot of factors. If it happens, awesome; if not, that’s totally fine too.” After racking up 12 domestic league titles in Spain, Germany, and England, Guardiola hit a bump in the road last year with City—a trophyless season that really stood out compared to all his previous successes. He’s faced some criticism for not winning, but he insists he’s not focused on “proving the haters wrong.” Instead, it’s more about proving to himself that he can bounce back. “My goal is really just to show myself that I can do it; I don’t want to carry last season’s feelings with me,” he said. “Winning makes everything better—your wine tastes better, you sleep better. Honestly, I don’t know any manager who loses games and sleeps soundly; that just doesn’t happen. You have to worry—that’s part of our life.”
Right now, Guardiola’s main aim is to snag another Champions League title with City. He pointed out that if they end up facing Real Madrid again, his old rival Carlo Ancelotti won’t be on the other side, having taken over as Brazil's head coach. Just talking about Ancelotti stepping away seemed to lighten his mood. “I’m really happy for him,” Guardiola said. “But I’m also relieved he’s not in Madrid anymore because he’s beaten me so many times. I won’t have to deal with that anymore.” He also recognized that it’s just not realistic to think you can win every single year. Even the best athletes have more losses than wins. “I’ve won 12 domestic leagues in 16 years; that’s pretty good,” he mentioned. “But you can’t win all the time. I can’t win the Champions League every season. Look at Michael Jordan—the greatest athlete I’ve ever seen—who won six NBA Championships in 15 years. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have incredible records, but they lost more Grand Slams than they won. It’s just part of the game.” Currently, Guardiola is taking a little break in Barcelona, trying to enjoy what he calls a “normal life” before diving back into football. City is gearing up for the revamped Club World Cup in the U.S. from June 14th to July 13th. “I’m waking up later and spending less time with the players, just trying to see what a normal life feels like,” he shared. “I want to go to concerts, kick back on the couch, read some books, play golf when I can, and finally catch up on those series people are always recommending during the season when I just don’t have time.”
“And let me tell you something: I plan to do the same things you do in your life.”
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