Wednesday 6 May 2015 11:43, UK
As Pep Guardiola returns to the Nou Camp with Bayern Munich, we look back on his extraordinary journey with Barcelona in his own words…
In four years at the helm between 2008 and 2012, Guardiola guided Barca to three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey victories and two Champions League triumphs.
In the process, he also helped create one of the finest teams the world has ever seen…
Pep on the Barcelona journey…
“I can't promise titles but I am convinced that the fans will be proud of us. I give you my word that we will put in an effort. I don't know if we'll win, but we'll persist. Put on your seat belts, because we're going to have fun.” – Upon being appointed as Barcelona coach in 2008
“I can't do anything else to top this. We're aware that we've done something magnificent. I'd like to congratulate the whole club and the fans. We're not the best team in Barca history but we've played the best season. We've won three titles but it's also about how we've won them. As a player, it was great to win this trophy for the first time. Now, we have won three which isn't as many as other clubs but we're getting closer to a select group of mythical teams.” – After Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the 2009 Champions League final
“I don't want to live off what I've done. There is nowhere like this, but we have to carry on winning.” – Upon signing a new contract at Barcelona in 2011
“We played worse in Rome than we want to play tomorrow. It's very strange to say that and I'm happy to have won, but let's be honest, we have to play much better than in 2009 to win. We have to play much quicker. In terms of intensity and a few other things, they weren't quite as good as we would have liked. That is something I have told my players repeatedly over the last few days. If the players who played in Rome played like that now we wouldn't win.” – On the eve of the 2011 Champions League final against Manchester United
“We are happy when you win, but also with the way we did it. Now we've got four, and that's a great number.” – Upon winning that 2011 Champions League final 3-1 at Wembley
“If we get up early and have a think, believe me, we are an unstoppable country. Thank you and Long Live Catalonia.” – In his speech at the Parliament of Catalonia after receiving its Medal of Honour in 2011
“After four years the desire was gone in Barcelona. The same players, the same opponents, the same journalists, the same games.” – On his decision to leave Barcelona in 2012
Pep on football…
“I sit down and watch videos. I take notes. That's when that inspiration comes - the moment that makes sense of my profession. The instant I know, for sure, that I've got it. I know how to win. It's the moment that my job becomes truly meaningful.”
“I hate tiki-taka. I always will. I want nothing more to do with tiki-taka. Tiki-taka is a load of ****, a made-up term. It means passing the ball for the sake of passing, with no real aim or aggression - nothing. I will not allow my brilliant players to fall for all that rubbish.”
Pep and Messi…
“Pep immediately transmitted an enormous amount of pride in our work, ambition and hunger. He won our confidence from the first day because we could see that things were being done correctly and then when results started to flow the confidence grew with them.” – Lionel Messi
“Don't write about him, don't try to describe him. Just watch him.” - Guardiola
Xavi and Iniesta say…
“He brought a lot to the history of the club and that will never be forgotten.” – Andres Iniesta
“He doesn't give himself a minute's rest. He's pig-headed, football is his everything and he puts so much intensity into everything. Pep's almost got a sickness for football.” – Xavi
“I did not teach Xavi or Iniesta to play. Coaches are here to lend a hand, but they have been playing well for 20 years. Coaches do not make good players play well. They play well enough without me.” – Guardiola
And on the semi-final showdown…
“I knew it would happen sooner or later. It's my first return to Barcelona, my home. I was there as player, I was there as coach. Of course it is special for me. It is a nice game, but not easy. Believe me, Barcelona are the strongest.”
Watch Barcelona v Bayern Munich live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.00pm this Wednesday
