This weekend, when Manchester City face Liverpool, Pep Guardiola will reach his 1,000th match as a manager. In an exclusive interview with the Manchester Evening News, Bernardo Silva shared his perspective on Guardiola. He revealed that Guardiola himself hadn't intended to stay at Manchester City for so long, but as time went on, he discovered there was much to accomplish. During this period, he has exerted a profound influence on the team, encompassing playing style, attacking philosophy and more.
Silva remarked: "When he first arrived, he only intended to stay for three or four years, but then he began to feel at home here. He felt this team still had much to accomplish, and every year I hear people say this is his final season..."
"I've been hearing that for five years now! Yet he keeps going! Because he believes he still possesses the energy to lead the team to a position where we can challenge for titles. That's excellent for the club. It's a tremendous achievement, truly remarkable. "
"The energy he brings to the team, even when he knows he's wrong... I know this because I've worked with him for so long. Sometimes, even when he knows he's wrong, he feels it's time to shout a bit to keep everyone alert and spark a response."
He knows what he says at half-time isn't right, yet even when the team's winning, he brings that passion. Sometimes he deliberately does things to keep us sharp – he does it on purpose.
It's hard to pin down his qualities simply, but I'd say first, because he was a top-level footballer himself, he understands the feel of playing on the pitch and how to win games. That helps him immensely – he played at the highest level and won numerous honours. Naturally, there's also the tactical dimension."
"Moreover, he's been remarkably generous with scheduling. One outstanding aspect of his work with the club is their recognition that we struggle to find rest periods. Even when our bodies haven't fully recovered, taking extra days off isn't beneficial physically."
"Yet overall, it's far more beneficial for our mental state. So when we return, our mindset is entirely different. Guardiola has always been generous with holidays and rest days, which is crucial for players nowadays."
"In terms of attacking philosophy, he elevated us to another level. He differs from other coaches; he's utterly captivated by football. For better or worse, he spends all day contemplating how to improve. Over the years, you've never seen Manchester City play the same way twice."
"We're constantly evolving because if we don't, opponents adapt and dictate our play. His obsession with football and relentless thinking are precisely why he excels – it's his passion, and he dedicates immense time to it."
"The new approach is rather effective. It involves committing more players forward to create problems while maintaining a solid defensive transition balance. Striking that equilibrium isn't easy, as you never know how opponents will defend. He's always trying to anticipate these scenarios and make predictions."
"We started experimenting last season against Bournemouth with the full-backs as the only players wide. We have numerous approaches, all created by him for this team. I believe they all work to some degree, depending on the opposition."
nellomcfc
11
Pep felt at home at Man City. The Club and the fans truly love Pep