Page 105 - Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning: The Biography

have turned out this way,’ Guardiola reminded people. But one thing was clear: using Cruyff’s idea
as a starting point, Guardiola had given the team methods by which to practise a type of football that
was as elaborate as it was effective. Barça’s triumph broke with some football taboos that put the
result before the play, as if they were incompatible.

Barça’s style has brought admiration from sports critics, similar to that generated in their day by
mythical teams such as River Plate (1941–5) who ruled with an exceptional quintet made up of
Muñoz, Moreno, Pedernera, Labruna and Loustau. As well as Budapest Honved (1949–55) with
Puskas, Bozsik, Kocsis or Czibor, the foundations of that Hungary team that won at Wembley in 1953.
And, of course, Di Stéfano’s Madrid (1956–60), winners of five consecutive European Cups, with a
forward line of Kopa, Rial, Di Stéfano, Puskas and Gento. Equally as celebrated was Pelé’s Santos
(1955–64) and the Brazil team from the 1970 World Cup – that team that lined up with five ‘tens’ in

attack: Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostao, Pelé and Rivelino. Or Sacchi’s Milan (1988–90), twice World
Club Champions with players in the category of Van Basten, Rijkaard and Gullit.
In the summer of 2009 and after winning the Champions League, Pep decided to make changes to
his squad. Samuel Eto’o had become one of the most consistent performers of the team even when he
had to, as against Madrid and Manchester United, play on the right of the attack. He scored the
opening goal of the Roma final but Guardiola understood that to continue allowing Messi to grow, he

had to get rid of the Cameroon international.
That same summer, Madrid had paid €95 million for Cristiano Ronaldo, €67 million for Kaká and
Barcelona were negotiating with players such as Filipe Luis and David Villa, talks which fizzled out
in the end. Finally, they struck a deal with Inter to exchange Eto’o for Ibrahimović. Pep spoke about
‘feeling’ in relation to Samuel, an English word which when used in Spanish means ‘vibe’. ‘It’s a
question of feeling, I can’t change the character. A thousand things are telling me, things that aren’t
football- or character-related, that this year we have to change a few things in the dressing room, not

just a player like Samuel but a few other things too.’ Pep accepted publicly that he could be mistaken.
But, again, he prefers to make his own mistakes.
Having won the League, the Cup and the Champions League in Rome, Barça attained the Spanish
Super Cup over two legs against Athletic de Bilbao, with Ibrahimović and Eto’o now departed.
There were two more titles left before achieving the sextet. Barcelona struggled against Shakhtar

Donetsk in the Stade Louis II in Monaco. With the score level at 0-0 after ninety minutes, the title was
played for in extra time. Pep knelt down in front of his starting team and began to explain to them
what had to happen, what was going to happen.
‘Be sure of the pass, without taking risks at the back! Do it well! As always, play at keeping the
ball and above all, move forward. In our own way. They are expecting the counter-attack and they
won’t change. Do it more than ever, our way, with the ball. If we have the ball we can do what we
know. In thirty minutes we can score! Don’t worry, eh! Do what you know! Patiently. Let’s not go

crazy because if we do, they’ll kill us. We’ll pass and pass. Don’t worry! Don’t worry! Patience! We
will work the same as always. More than ever we must move, move, move and constantly create
superiority. We’ll open up the pitch and we’ll look for the wings and then there will be space down
the centre. OK, gentlemen? As always! Let’s go, eh?!’ He finished off clapping. The path to victory
was illuminated once again.

In the 115th minute, Pedro controlled the ball on the left, found Messi who managed to open up a
channel between the full backs with two touches so that Pedro got the ball again and finished. Barça
were proclaimed European Superchampions.
Out of all the titles won in 2009, the World Club Championship, to be played against Estudiantes