Exposing the myth: “Pep Guardiola is a fraud who inherited the best teams and oil is behind his success in his coaching career.”

A Thread:

When people look at Pep’s debut season as coach, they use the squad he had at Barça in 2008 as proof that he inherited the greatest team of all time. This is far from the case. Not only were Barça far from the best team of all time, they weren’t even world class.

Before Pep’s arrival, the last major title that Barça had won was the Champions League in 05/06. Trophy-less for 2 seasons. It’s true that the squad that Guardiola “inherited” wasn’t that much different from the CL winning squad, but they were behind their own downfall.

Ronaldinho spent most of his evenings in bars around the country getting drunk and even became overweight. Deco was essentially the same. Loved to party & drink. And a victim of injuries. Rijkaard wasn’t a strict coach that dealt with these issues harshly. He wasn’t inspiring

Pep wasn’t one to fuck around. He had spent just one season in charge of Barça B, and on the day he gives his first press conference as the first team’s coach, what does he say?

"All of the players in the first-team squad last season are of a very high level. But with the technical secretary we are forming a squad and Deco, Ronaldinho, and Eto'o are not in our minds."

These aren’t just ordinary players. They’re among the most popular and best players in history. And a man who spent just one season in charge of a youth team comes in and says they’re free to go. So much for inheritance.

Eto’o was allowed to stay though. Because the tensions in the team under Rijkaard came from Eto’s unhealthy relationship with Ronaldinho. It was a chaotic dressing room. Not much of a team

Pep then decided to promote Busquets, a 20-year-old, who only had experience for the B team. Yet under Pep in the first team, in his first season, he gave Yaya Toure in his prime years a run for his money and took half his game-time

Guardiola made his side play much different to Rijkaard. He focused on possession and implemented the famous press. The midfield trio linked under Pep, unlike the midfield system under Rijkaard. And Busquets was at the helm of it.

All these changes, regular players like Deco, Ronaldinho, Milito, Zambrotta went, replaced with the youth and a couple experienced players. Let’s not forget Pique who was only 21 when Pep signed him and replaced Marquez as the first choice CB

Alves was the only experienced player that Pep signed in his first season in charge who was key to his team. But that’s still not inheritance,is it? Signing a player, improving him and making him a fundamental piece of your team?

Alves was the only experienced player that Pep signed in his first season in charge who was key to his team. But that’s still not inheritance,is it? Signing a player, improving him and making him a fundamental piece of your team?

So and so, Guardiola went on to win the sextuple. In his first season in a top European league. The only manager to ever do so till date. And the best part was, with the result; came beautiful football. And this still wasn’t the best Barça side ever.

If you ask most Barça fans, they’ll tell you the 2011 Barça team is the best of all time. Which goes to show, Guardiola improves his players and gives more reasoning that he didn’t just inherit the squad that won everything. Despite winning less that season.

His only failure at Bayern wasn’t winning the Champions League, reaching the semi-finals in all 3 seasons. For some reason people love to use that to measure success. It’s the biggest competition in club football, but it’s not the most defining. The league is.

Consistency is more important in club football to determine the best teams. Yes, he’s failed to win it since Barça, but it doesn’t change that narrative. Even Zidane, who won it 3 times in a row says the league is harder to win.

Why is it that Madrid only won the league in one year under Zidane, while they won the Champions League 3 times? In the league you’re tested more often. In the UCL, the bigger teams have the advantage, but you play (max) 1/3rd of the games you play in the league

Winning the league isn’t an excuse for Guardiola’s European failure since leaving Barça, but it goes to show that the Champions League shouldn’t define how good a coach is. Even Ferguson only won two in his almost 3-decade long tenure at United.