Pep Guardiola out of control

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This man is passionate, emotional, explosive, sensitive. The pain of defeat is written deep on his face. And if it goes well? Then he becomes a rambunctious child, a hot-blooded lover, the embodiment of happiness and satisfaction.

Pep Guardiola hugged his teammates – one after the other – after Wednesday night’s majestic 4-0 win over Real Madrid; intimate, exuberant, exuberant, loving. He then spoke of the stomach ache they suffered twelve months after losing to this Real in the semi-finals of the Champions League a year ago. “Today we got everything out, all the pain, all our skills. It was probably one of our best games ever.”

The furioso at the start showed what a night it could be for the English. Manchester City combined wonderful, confident and tasty. After Bernardo Silva made it 1-0, Guardiola kissed the crowd, clenched his fist, heated up the fans and wanted to hug the stadium. After the 2:0 – again by Silva – the Spaniard jumped over the line cheering. Now he was intoxicated with himself and what was offered to him on the field. Pep beyond limits.

Like on the console

Everything seemed perfect, sometimes even fake, as played on the console. Manchester has demolished Real. There was a class difference in this match. City played in a different league. Pep Guardiola would probably never speak of a perfect game. The tinkerer always finds things that can be improved.

But it is clear that with Manchester City he seems to be able to do again what he was able to do with Barcelona. From 2008 to 2012, he had developed a superior team that shaped and dominated European football with the idea of ​​possession. Highlight: Winning the Champions League twice (2009, 2011).

Guardiola has long since developed the style of play at Manchester City – possession is still the priority, but now it’s more forward than wide. The early pressing and the quick substitution do not make it easy for any opponent. Even long balls from defense to attack are no longer rejected with Pep and serve to vary the game.

All this is also possible thanks to the excellent skills of the individual players: the brilliant De Bruyne, who can do anything. Dangerous dribbler Jack Grealish, who has finally arrived in Manchester. Thanks to Rodri, the near-perfect six, thinker and driver. Thanks to Haaland, who is always there, always dangerous, a force. Thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva, thanks to excellent defenders like Akanji and Stones. Puuuh, what a team!

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Now Guardiola faces the triple. On Sunday he can secure the title in the Premier League, on June 3 City will play in the final of the English Cup against Manchester United and on June 10 the final of the Champions League against Inter Milan will take place in Istanbul. It could be the Spaniard’s third title in the royal class.

But Guardiola wouldn’t be Guardiola if he didn’t already raise his finger: “A final against an Italian opponent is never the best. We have to prepare ourselves mentally. Many believe that we are the clear favourites. But that’s wrong and the worst thing can happen to us.”

Source : Blick