Page 180 - Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning: The Biography

love you, Pep).
Guardiola directed his final home game with his usual level of intensity. ‘Come on, Pedro, we’ve
been working together for five years and you’re still doing this to me!!’ he shouted at the youngster he
had discovered while at Barça B.

It even seemed like the referee wanted to join in the party, with a laid-back approach to some of
his decisions that benefited Barcelona. The game ended 4-0 to Barça, with all four goals coming from
Lionel Messi, marking yet another record, one of many: he had scored fifty league goals, beating the
European league record previously set by Dudu Georgescu in the 1976–7 season with Dynamo
Bucharest. After scoring his first that night at the Camp Nou, Messi pointed across to Pep, dedicating
it to his mentor. The manager answered pointing his finger back at him.
After his fourth, Messi, ran over to the touchline followed by his team-mates to embrace the coach

who had been instrumental in making him the player he is today. It was poignant. Theatrical, but
honest. Two of the biggest characters of the biggest soap opera in the world were filling the screen
with an emotional hug, a public display of affection, unashamed in showing their eternal gratitude for
each other. Pep whispered in Messi’s ear: ‘Thanks for everything.’
And after the game, Pep was to give a speech out on the pitch. He took the microphone and shuffled
around uncomfortably on his own while the players rallied round him. Standing near the centre circle,

he watched with the rest of the crowd as a video montage was played on the giant screens, set to the
music of Coldplay. Then, his favourite song ‘Que tinguem sort’ (I hope we are lucky) by Catalan
songwriter Lluís Llach was played, the words echoing around the stadium thanks to the thousands of
supporters singing along.

‘Si em dius adéu, vull que el dia sigui net i clar, que cap ocell trenqui l’harmonia del seu cant. Que tinguis sort i que trobis el
que t’ha mancat amb mi …’
If you say goodbye to me, I hope the day is clean and clear, that no bird breaks the harmony of its song. I hope you are lucky and that
you find what you have been missing with me …

Pep looked into the stands while everyone was waiting for his words. The stadium was full to
capacity with 88,044 spectators, sitting in anticipation. Some holding each other. Fully grown men
trying to hide their tears. Young girls taking pictures on their phones to capture the moment. As
everyone remained on their feet, Pep’s dad, Valentí, had to sit down because his legs were trembling.
The man considered the club’s favourite son was leaving home, again. It was goodbye to an older
brother for some, a father figure for others, a Messiah, even, for a few. A nation, a club and its fans

were feeling orphaned.
Imagine.
Imagine having to represent all those roles. The weight of all that, the pressure. Can you understand
now why he had to go?

‘Pep is a privileged man. He is one of the few people that I know who in his private and professional
life cultivates the urgent, the important and the essential.’ Trying to work him out, Guardiola’s friend
Evarist Murtra read a speech in the Catalan Parliament the day the coach was paid homage to by the

Catalan civil society in November 2011. Pep complied with the urgency of winning titles and
matches; he related to the importance of honouring noble codes that underpin sport; and, finally, he
was loyal to the institution he represented and the spirit of its founders and followers – and that was
essential.
In an interview at the time, former Real Madrid director, coach and player Jorge Valdano chose