Pep Guardiola: Proving Grounds

I drove up and stopped, turned off the engine and looked up and my eye was met by a huge bubble of plastic. I looked left and right, only to see more bubbles. It was the greatness of the Allianz arena. I got out of the car and looked around as if to make sure that nobody had followed me. There was no one. I walked towards the door. I had never opened it before and it was big. It took a tremendous amount of strength to open it, but when it was open, I strolled in with ease. I walked via the dressing room and looked along the side. There were pictures of almost everyone and it made me smile. Mandzukic, Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Neuer they were all there. I got to the media room entrance and there was Karl (Heinz Rummenigge). I nodded to him and he pushed open the door. I followed him in and suddenly a barrage of flashes almost blinded me. I sat down and there was a clear glass of water in front of me. I looked at it for a while as Karl spoke about... I don’t know what he spoke about. Suddenly he pointed to someone in the row of journalists. I thought that maybe I had to listen so I did.

“ What is it like to take over the champions of Europe?”

“Well I think, there is a lot of pressure. However we have the players to do it. The staff to do it. The facilities to do it and the belief that we can do it. We are hungry too, I am hungry. I want to win, so does the squad and I think that honestly we can win and many people across the world, say that we will win. We also have confidence and of course not too much. We are confident that we will do it.”

“What is it?”

“I think it is obvious no? My aim here and the aim of everyone here is to emulate or beat what Jupp Heynckes did last year. I have spoken to Jupp and he also believes that we can do it. Of course it will not be easy to do this despite everything I have just said. The Bundesliga will not be easy and the champions league will also be extremely difficult. Everything will be difficult. If it wasn’t I wouldn’t be here.”

“Ok, well what about your squad, do you believe that your squad is good enough to win everything?”

“Of course. If my squad wasn’t good enough then I wouldn’t have said anything that I have today so far. Honestly, I think that maybe this squad is better than the one I had a t Barcelona.”

“Are you looking to improve your squad? Many have linked you with Robert Lewandowski”.

“We do not need Lewandowski. Mario Mandzukic is as good as if not better than him. Lewandowski is of course a very good player, but Mario is this too and will do his job brilliantly. OK,so Lewandowski scored 4 goals against Real Madrid, but er, the defence at Madrid is not too good and when the team is obviously set up for Lewandowski. Then it makes sense that he will hit the net 4 times.”

“How have you enjoyed Munich so far?”

“Oh ,it is a fantastic city. Utterly brilliant. There is so much to do. I have been able to find a magnificent house and there is so much near me. Oh and I love the food, even better than Tapas. Bratwurst and Schnitzel are so good. In fact I think I will ask for my weekly wage to be delivered in Bratwurst form for Uli, after all he is the Bratwurst boss.”

“ Are you looking forward to your first competitive game as Bayern boss?”

“This is Regensburg yes? It is a great occasion for both sides. They get to meet the champions of Europe whereas I take control of the champions of Europe for the first time. I think I will play more or less a first team, because I want to enjoy it as much as possible.”

“Now Pep, some say that you are still unproven as a manager, because that Barcelona side was too good to fail. Do you see the logic in this?”

“I’m not sure really. It’s a tricky one. I don’t even know how I think of myself. I’ve never sat down and though am I one of the best managers in the world. I think that ultimately I see the logic in this but I don’t agree. I won the Tercera division with Barca B and I tell you that that was possibly my hardest title. It was so hard to win it and we did. I think this justified the call up to the Barca side, where I won everything and so I think that I have not achieved this without any talent. To be honest, I think I deserve to be where I am and I look forward to hopefully proving those doubters wrong. It is my proving grounds if you like”.

“Thank you Mr Guardiola”.

“My pleasure”.

"Pep are you sure this is the one you want?"

"Yes."

"But there are so many other players you could go for,why him?"

"I like his style of play. Look, you can’t change my mind, you know that the board have given me complete freedom on the transfer front, so I will sign who I want to sign."

"That’s not gonna stop me trying to talk you out of it, anyway why is his style of play so good?"

"Because he fits my tactic. You know that."

"No I don’t bloody know that, I haven’t seen your tactics."

You haven’t? Ok I’ll get the file to you tomorrow."

"Well, even if he does fit your tactic he still won’t do any good, I mean they revolved their whole team around him and he still couldn’t score to save his life."

"May I remind you that he scored 22 goals last season."

"I know but he had 60 games to do that in. He’s not good enough for this squad."

"Well I’m gonna take a gamble on him anyway."

"A gamble? You don’t gamble with millions Pep. You don’t."

"Listen I don’t need to argue with you. I get to make the decisions."

"Wait a minute, look mate, I don’t think they’re going to want to sell him to you."

"Well I’m not sure they’re that happy with him. I doubt they’ll fight to the death to keep him."

"No, he’s not the problem. There’s a certain club you rejected last year and they have a certain manager who isn’t a great fan of yours."

"Oh S**t yeah."

"I’m not sure Mr Abramovich is still in love with you and don’t even get me started with Jose. Remember when he poked Tito in the eye?"

Of course, but he was in the wrong there so I’m sure he’ll be keen to let it go if I approach him in the right way."

"You and I both know that Jose Mourinho isn’t going to forget something like that anytime soon."

"Yes, I know but......What’s his name...... Ron Gourlay, that’s the one. I saw on a Chelsea fan forum that they all think he’s an idiot. So maybe I can get something out of him."

"Why in the world were you on the Chelsea fan forums?"

"I was researching Chelsea to see if I wanted to join them."

"OK but still, you know how fans get, with their crazy stories. Also Chelsea fans have proven that they hold grudges. I mean just think about Rafa Benitez. Maybe this guy’s just done one thing wrong and they hate him for it."

"Still worth a try. Where’s my secretary, I need her to get his number."

"I overheard your conversation Sir and I thought I would get his number so here it is."

"Oh thanks Heidi. I need it to be silent in here, get out my office. You can wait outside if you want."

"Nah, I’ll go back to my office. Let me know how it goes."

"Hello this is Ron Gourlay of Chelsea football club."

"We’d like to make an offer for one of your players."

"Errr who are you?"

"Bayern Munich"

"Ok then, so who do you want?"

"We would like to make a bid.... for Fernando Torres."