For many, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola stands at the very top of managers in football today.
Since he arrived at the club in the summer of 2016, Pep has achieved so much at the Etihad Stadium.
He has turned Manchester City into the dominant force in English football, ushering in a beautiful brand of football to boot.
Pep Guardiola is always innovating, and his impact on not just the English game, but the game as a whole, has been clear to see in recent times.
Many, many players Pep has worked with talk about how intelligent he is, and several have branded him a ‘genius’ previously – and Josko Gvardiol is the latest to use that particular word.
Gvardiol reveals Guardiola once changed his entire plan because he ‘had a dream’
Guardiola has had many original tactical ideas during his managerial career so far.
His biggest and most successful has arguably been having his side always playing out from the back to try and draw opposition players up high.
Beating the press in your own defensive third can be an extremely effective tactic.
Pep has also enjoyed things such as playing four central defenders in his backline, and has also inverted full-backs into midfield.
Gvardiol is one player who is a natural centre-back who has been playing as a left-back, and has been speaking about Pep in the latest edition of the City magazine – and he has shared when he realised his manager was a genius.
He said (via mancity.com): “I have to say that he’s a genius.
“He lives for the sport. I remember one day, he came to our meeting, we were planning something the whole week, how we were going to play, but that day he came up and said, ‘I had a dream,’ and he changed the system and everything. From that moment, I knew he really loved it.”
Playing under Pep must be incredible
Part of the reason Pep is so good is that he is also a little bit mad.
He is never afraid to try new things, as he believes in the quality of his players, and also obviously backs his own ability to coach them to do things as he wants.
It is fascinating to hear Gvardiol talk about Guardiola dismissing a week’s worth of training all because he had a dream.
On the face of it, this seems crazy. But with Pep having been as successful as he has, you simply cannot question any decision that he makes. If he feels something in his gut, the players are going to have to get on board with it.
The Spaniard is now into his final season at the Etihad and fans are desperate for him to extend his contract. He is expected to make his decision at some point during the season.
