Pep Guardiola : the Philosophy that Changed the Game.

289 Pages·2014·5.61 MB·English

by  Violán

PEP GUARDIOLA
The Philosophy that Changed the Game
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pep guardiola
the philoSophY
that changed the gaMe
Miguel Angel Violán
Meyer & Meyer Sport
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Original Title: El métode Guardiola
© Miguel Angel Violán, 2010
Columnia Edicions Llibres i Comunicació, S.A.U.
Peu de la Creu, 4, 08001 Barcelona

Translation: Caleb J. Moore
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Miguel Violán: Pep Guardiola – The Philosophy that Changed the Game
Maidenhead: Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd., 2014
ISBN 978-1-78255-029-7
All rights reserved, especially the right to copy and distribute, including the translation
rights. No part of this work may be reproduced – including by photocopy, microfilm or
any other means – processed, stored electronically, copied or distributed in any form
whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher.
© 2015 by Meyer & Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd.
1st reprint 2015 of the 1st edition 2014
Aachen, Auckland, Beirut, Cairo, Cape Town, Dubai, Hägendorf, Hong Kong,
Indianapolis, Manila, New Delhi, Singapore, Sydney, Tehran, Vienna
Member of the World Sports Publishers‘ Association (WSPA)
www.w-s-p-a.org
ISBN 978-1-78255-695-4
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.m-m-sports.com
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Contents

CONTENTS
Dedication ...................................................................... 8
Introduction .................................................................... 9
Following Guardiola .................................................... 10
The Boy Who Cried for Pinocchio .............................. 14
The Esteemed Pep Guardiola ....................................... 33
"Have the Courage to Have Values" ............................ 51
Pep Guardiola’s Speech ............................................... 67
The 6:2 Generation ...................................................... 85
Does Pep Have Any Weaknesses at All? .................... 107
The Club & Its Blue-Red Soul ................................... 127
A Certain Samuel Eto'o .............................................. 151
On the Importance of Role Models ............................ 165
Recollections of Ronaldinho & Deco? ...................... 177
Guardiola’s Absence .................................................. 191
Guardiola for President? ............................................ 207
Values and More Values ............................................. 227
Last But Not Least: The Eighth Title ......................... 249
Books & Other Resources .......................................... 253
Four Commentaries .................................................... 265
Appendix .................................................................... 285
Credits ........................................................................ 288
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I give you fans my word that we will
push ourselves. I don’t know if it will
end in success, but I won’t let up.
Buckle up! We’re going to have fun!
Guardiola to fans at the
2008-2009 Barça team presentation
on 16 August 2008
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PeP Guardiola — the philoSophY that changed the gaMe
dedication
I dedicate this book to my parents, Enric Violán i Tohà
(†) and María Dolores Galán Puigdevall. I also dedicate
it to all of the members of my family who came before
us as well as those here with us today and those who will
come after us. I also dedicate this book to my wife Maria
Antònia, my daughters Ariadna and Patrícia Violán i
Camprubí, my siblings Enric and Núria, and my nephews
Èric and Edu. I dedicate it to my parents-in-law, Esteve
Camprubí and Maria Antònia Claramunt, who generously
gave up their seats in the stands at Camp Nou allowing us
to enjoy the game together with the ‘Gómez clan’—Bernat
Gómez, Montse Camprubí, Núria, Ferran and Guim.
Naturally, I also dedicate this book to my few but good
friends as they are always there when I need them. Four of
them have kindly agreed to contribute to this book.
Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude in general to
all those who placed their trust in me and lent me their
support in writing this book by providing information and
sharing their views.
I admire all those who show how the world should be by
the way they live their lives.
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Introduction
introduction
This book is based on journalistic content gathered from
print, radio, television and online sources, current sporting
events (including press conferences), secondary literature
as well as conversations with people associated with Pep
Guardiola. The book does not contain exclusive quotations
by the former Barça coach but does provide interesting
information from those who are close to him. The fact that
he does not grant any interviews is part of this coach’s
communications policy.
A major portion of this book was written at my home in
Barcelona’s Eixample district. I also worked in the reading
rooms of the Ateneu Barcelonès, the computer room of
Widener Library (Harvard University’s main library), the
Cafeteria of Harvard University’s unique Cooperative
Society located on Harvard Square, and in the greater
Boston area, a crucible of knowledge in the United States.
Every line in this book bears a small reflection of these
different settings although there was always a common
denominator: my internet connection. That is simply a
sign of the times.
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