"I have to be able to live with
that. I am under pressure, of course, but I know this and I accept this
challenge without fear and that is why I am the coach.” Pep Guardiola
So Pep Guardiola is back. After a year off enjoying the sights of New York and vigorously learning German, the ex-Barca coach is now in full work mode. Not many managers inherit a treble winning, record breaking side...and although it did not work out for Rafa Benitez at Inter, the signs look more promising for Guardiola. Yes he is aware of and understands the pressures and expectation on him, yet the concern is that what is expected of him this season is not possible. As The Whitehouse Address discusses, the expectation on him is to defend his sides European crown, something not done since 1990.
Defending the European cup has become something of a fascination for the post-Italia 90 generation. In the past 23 years no club has been able to successfully defend Europe's top trophy. Of course before 1990 we saw several clubs achieve this feat. Real Madrid won it 5 times in a row from 1956-1960. Benfica followed that with back to back success in 1961-1962 yet missed out on a third losing to Milan the following season.
Inter Milan under their coach Helenio Herrara would win back to back titles in 1964 and 1965, overcoming the European 'Kings' of that time Benfica and Real Madrid to win their first and second trophies respectively. It would be 1971 when the competition would see the potential for back to back success once more, this time Rinus Michels lead Ajax to history. His totalfootball would take them even further and win three in a row, a feat only managed before by Di Stefano and Puskas' Madrid.
Their success would be followed by Bayern Munich who would achieve the same feat of three successive successes from 1974-1976 with Beckenbauer, Breitner and Muller leading the team to history. It was a symbolic change of dominance considering it was Germany who had snatched World Cup success, and true confirmation that this Dutch side was one of the best ever seen, from Michels and Holland in 1974 also. Germany would now have its time in the sun.
English football would have their time in the late 70's, with both Liverpool and Nottingham Forest achieving back to back success in 77-78 and 79-80 respectively. As we know English football's European ban opened the door for other sides and particularly Italy. Towards the end of the 80's Italian football was on the rise and a decade of dominance would arrive for Serie A and Italian football.
The final back to back success would come in 1989-1990 with Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan side. It was a side who deserved to achieve such a feat, playing a brand of football which was simply mesmerizing.
The curse of Sacchi?
Every decade since the beginning of the European cup at least one side successfully defended their European crown. Yet since Milan in 1990, 23 years later, no club has managed to achieve this. Why is this? Is it a curse put on by Sacchi, or is it the case that in the modern game it is almost impossible to achieve?
Of course teams have come close; between 93 and 95 Milan reached three finals under Fabio Capello yet could only win one of those, a 4-0 demolition of Cruyff’s Barcelona. The great Ajax side of Van Gaal defeated Milan to deny them the chance of back to back success. And the following season an Italian club would deny Ajax of their back to back success. Juventus won on penatlies and denied Van Gaal the chance to make history.
The Italians were proving to be the strongest in European football, notably because of the rise of transfers. Italian football was booming and the money was flowing. This meant that Europe's finest were arriving on to Italy's shores. It meant these sides were powerhouses in Europe. And yet still no-one could replicate Milan's success. Juventus reached the final three years running 1996-1998 yet could only win that first one against Ajax. Dortmund prevented them from achieving history and Real Madrid made sure it was only one success in three for the Old Lady. It was side which deserved to be regarded as one of the best ever and yet because they failed to defend their crown, that Juve side are not spoke of as highly as they should.
Towards the late 90's Spain started to emerge as strong European contenders, Real Madrid would reach three finals (1997, 2000, 2002) winning twice and Valencia would reach back to back finals in 2000 and 2001 yet would fail to win both games. Yet those clubs would struggle during the 2000's and it was a time for the rise of England's dominance.
During the 2000’s Milan and Barcelona would battle the might of the English, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all reaching the final. In fact English sides reached the final every season between 2005 and 2009. Yet there was only side who would reach back to back finals, Manchester United in 2008 and 2009.
Here it was, after defeating Chelsea in 2008 Alex Ferguson had a chance to go down in history as one of only handful of coaches to successfully defend his clubs European crown. It could well have been an identical final had Iniesta not scored that last second goal to put Chelsea out. Unfortunately that was the year when Guardiola had taken the reigns at Camp Nou and a special something was emerging.
Guardiola's ambition
Guardiola would deny Ferguson history twice. In 2009 he prevented him back to back titles and in 2011 he would deny him the chance to end his career with three European cups. Unfortunately for Ferguson the side he had assembled just was not on the same level as this Barcelona one. No-one else was. And yet even they could not overcome the 'curse of Sacchi'.
During Guardiola’s four year reign at Barcelona the intention was clear; win back to back Champions League’s and prove to be as great as those previous sides of Madrid, Benfica, Ajax, Bayern, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and of course Milan. Many had tried to defend their crown yet many had failed.
In this Barcelona side we witnessed one of the best ever teams seen, surely if anyone was to break Sacchi’s curse then it would be this side. And yet they couldn't do it, whether the pressure of expectation was too strong we do not know yet twice they tried and twice they failed.
It was close, Barcelona would reach the semi-final’s the following season yet fate or luck would look down on them and make their task harder. A volcanic eruption meant flights could not happen and they had to take a bus across country to Milan to play Inter. They lost 3-1. In the return leg they could not break down Mourinho’s defensive structure until the final moments, and when they did actually score a winning second, the referee gave a dubious hand ball decision Luck was not with them and the chance of back to back success was gone.
As we know they would recapture it the following season, defeating Manchester United once again. It was a majestic performance and proved that this team was as great as any before it. Guardiola could not resist one more shot to make history and stayed another year. It proved costly, for him and the side.
The focus of the whole season was on the Champions League, they effectively surrendered the league in the hope of defending their European crown. And yet in their way was Chelsea, their nemesis, their anti-thesis. Whether it was Sacchi or fate looking down on them in that tie once again who knows, yet the chances they had in the first leg which they failed to convert meant no away goal and 1-0 deficit.
The pressure, expectation and the knowledge of the players and the coach that this was the last throw of the dice was evident. Yet 2-0 up at half time looked it was all going well. And then…out of nowhere Ramires scored a delightful lob and it’s 2-1. The expression of the players said it all…shock.
In the second half Lionel Messi, who has never scored against Chelsea, missed a crucial penalty which would have given Barca the lead and psychological advantage went to Chelsea. That miss, that tie, showed how hard it is to defend your crown, the pressure is enormous. Barca would go out in the semi’s once again and the hopes of replicating Milan (of who Barca and Guardiola were often compared to in terms of ‘revolutionary’ football) were gone.
The rise of Bayern
Enter the next challenger. During the period of Barcelona's dominance the impressive form of Bayern Munich was not really mentioned. Dortmund were winning back to back league titles and Bayern were not considered a ‘dominant’ force in Europe. Although they reached the final in 2010 all the focus was on Mourinho and the Inter side which defeated Barca. And Bayern were somewhat subdued by Mourinho’s aura that night.
Even reaching the final in 2012 didn’t alert many to their rise, yet two finals in three years should have shown something was brewing. Yet they would lose in their own stadium to Chelsea on penalties and would be considered ‘chokers’. It was not until the 2012/13 season where Bayern proved themselves as Europe’s best. A third final in four was proof that this side was very good, yet success was necessary to hush the doubters and make them 'great'.
Although they appeared on the ropes for much of it a last minute winner proved that this Bayern team had what it takes. It was deserved their season was spectacular, particularly the 7-0 destruction of (symbolically) Barcelona in the semi-finals. Third time lucky, yet now the expectation and pressure is on Bayern to defend their crown.
The added weight on them now is different to that of being a perennial runner up, being at the top can be the hardest of all. Everyone wants to take you down; fans, media and of course opposition coaches. The question now is, are Bayern capable of dealing with the ‘bullesye’ on their chests?
Well perhaps their method and ‘evolution’ may allow them to make history. Pep Guardiola who was unveiled last week was the man every top club wanted. A smart man, he has chosen well in Bayern. The man who excited the world with his style of football at Barcelona and proved that there was substance as well as style, makes Bayern’s hopes of defending their European trophy all the more possible.
He knows there is pressure on him, it will be hard to replicate what Bayern did last season, yet he really has one job to do this season – defend Bayern's Champions League crown.
History is against them
Can they do it? When considering that no-one has managed to achieve it since 1990 then you can see that it will not be an easy feat. You cannot help but think that realistically they won’t do it.
The beauty of the Champions League today is that the level of competition is so high. In the past European football was different; culturally, travel and the lack of ‘transfer’ activity meant that sides could dominate for years without serious competition. It is different now. There are many clubs who possess world class players and coaches and all believe and want success in Europe. It has made the tournament a great spectacle yet it makes defending the trophy so very difficult. Even Barcelona, the best team ever could not defend their title (three times from 2006 they reached the semi’s after winning) and this points towards a similar situation at Bayern.
Yes they got past their mind block of finals defeat and it is clear that this side is at this time the best in Europe, yet Real Madrid cannot be discounted now they have Ancelotti. The issues these past three years still did not stop them reaching three semi-finals, this team is excellent and with Isco arriving they have a new dimension to their game.
Barcelona will be up there without question (yet a change of coach may be needed). Juventus look incredibly strong now their strikeforce consists of Llorente and Tevez and Man City, who possess a world class team, now have a coach who understands European football. Evidently Bayern will be regarded as favourites yet there are many other sides who the potential to win the tournament.
An tampering idealist could be trouble
Another worry concerns Guardiola himself. Yes he was excellent for Barca yet he was Barca. He knew the club, the values and the philosophy and perfected it. Bayern is a great club too yet different to Barca. Culturally and on the pitch. One wonders (worries) that Guardiola will seek to ‘Barca-sify’ this Bayern team, if so it would be a mistake.
In possession Bayern have proven to have many ‘weapons’ in terms of style and personnel which has made them so difficult to play against, the word ‘complete’ has being used by this blog. Barcelona’s problem, which at first was their brilliance, was that they had one way to play. It was great, yet it became predictable. Surely Guardiola will not take away their variety and 'arsenal' over his ideology?
Can Guardiola embrace what he has inherited or will he seek to make Gotze his Messi and deploy a false-nine system. Of course it can be used, yet the role of Mandzukic both in and out of possession was a major factor in Bayern’s success last year and Guardiola should not be so quick to dismiss the Croatian.
As for defensively, Bayern again had mastered many aspects, notably the near ‘perfection’ of Gegenpressing, yet will Guardiola wish a higher pressing game to what Barca had? Is change necessary for their success or will it lead to failure? The high pressing game is very tiring and fatiguing and this is why Barca and Spain seek to dominate possession so much, for the most part in order to rest. Yet Gegenpressing seeks to expose space behind defences in order to counter attack quickly. It is a much more attacking defensive tactic (with the right forwards) as well as being more secure defensively (as it offers less room behind).
Jupp Heynckes was loved by the players at Bayern and they will be quick to judge what Guardiola offers the team in terms of personality and tactics. The key man in all this however is Matthias Sammer. It was evident that his arrival last summer was a major factor in Bayern’s dominance, desire and focus. If Sammer is on board with Guardiola’s approach then rest assured the players will be too.
What is for sure is that Guardiola has inherited a world class team who is in a better position than Barca were when he took over. Yet this can also be a problem. Those Barca players needed ‘saving’ from a reign which was losing control and professionalism. He was the ‘white Knight’ and the players loved him (of course he was also an idol to many from his playing days). Not only this but he was an ‘unknown’ quantity to many outside of Barca when he took over in 2008, he arrives at Bayern with the world watching him.
The expectation and pressure is huge because he is expected, by many, to do better than last year. This is probably impossible yet rest assured he will be judged on his ability to defend their domestic title and importantly win that back-back European crown. If he does then it will be an amazing achievement by him, yet also the club. This is his first season yet this club has reached three of the last four finals, this highlights their strength. Guardiola signifies their evolution and desire to never 'stop' being in flux. This situation is similar to when Dettmar Cramer took over Bayern in 1974 after their first European success under Udo Lattek. It may be that the same pattern is emerging with Guardiola - could this mean three in a row?
Three in a row? In the modern game? The realist would tell you this is not possible. Recent history proves that winning the Champions League is hard, yet defending them is nearly impossible. As good as Bayern are history appears against them and their coach this season. One wonders of he does 'fail' to win this season how will people consider his talents and reputation? It would be fairer to judge him after 2016 when he departs Bayern, yet this is modern football, and that kind of long term patience is not a characteristic of today's game.
Right now Guardiola is all smiles, yet there is no doubt that he found himself battling with history, it is quite the unenviable situation. Without doubt this will be fascinating.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
Related articles
So Pep Guardiola is back. After a year off enjoying the sights of New York and vigorously learning German, the ex-Barca coach is now in full work mode. Not many managers inherit a treble winning, record breaking side...and although it did not work out for Rafa Benitez at Inter, the signs look more promising for Guardiola. Yes he is aware of and understands the pressures and expectation on him, yet the concern is that what is expected of him this season is not possible. As The Whitehouse Address discusses, the expectation on him is to defend his sides European crown, something not done since 1990.
Defending the European cup has become something of a fascination for the post-Italia 90 generation. In the past 23 years no club has been able to successfully defend Europe's top trophy. Of course before 1990 we saw several clubs achieve this feat. Real Madrid won it 5 times in a row from 1956-1960. Benfica followed that with back to back success in 1961-1962 yet missed out on a third losing to Milan the following season.
Inter Milan under their coach Helenio Herrara would win back to back titles in 1964 and 1965, overcoming the European 'Kings' of that time Benfica and Real Madrid to win their first and second trophies respectively. It would be 1971 when the competition would see the potential for back to back success once more, this time Rinus Michels lead Ajax to history. His totalfootball would take them even further and win three in a row, a feat only managed before by Di Stefano and Puskas' Madrid.
Their success would be followed by Bayern Munich who would achieve the same feat of three successive successes from 1974-1976 with Beckenbauer, Breitner and Muller leading the team to history. It was a symbolic change of dominance considering it was Germany who had snatched World Cup success, and true confirmation that this Dutch side was one of the best ever seen, from Michels and Holland in 1974 also. Germany would now have its time in the sun.
English football would have their time in the late 70's, with both Liverpool and Nottingham Forest achieving back to back success in 77-78 and 79-80 respectively. As we know English football's European ban opened the door for other sides and particularly Italy. Towards the end of the 80's Italian football was on the rise and a decade of dominance would arrive for Serie A and Italian football.
The final back to back success would come in 1989-1990 with Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan side. It was a side who deserved to achieve such a feat, playing a brand of football which was simply mesmerizing.
The curse of Sacchi?
Every decade since the beginning of the European cup at least one side successfully defended their European crown. Yet since Milan in 1990, 23 years later, no club has managed to achieve this. Why is this? Is it a curse put on by Sacchi, or is it the case that in the modern game it is almost impossible to achieve?
Of course teams have come close; between 93 and 95 Milan reached three finals under Fabio Capello yet could only win one of those, a 4-0 demolition of Cruyff’s Barcelona. The great Ajax side of Van Gaal defeated Milan to deny them the chance of back to back success. And the following season an Italian club would deny Ajax of their back to back success. Juventus won on penatlies and denied Van Gaal the chance to make history.
The Italians were proving to be the strongest in European football, notably because of the rise of transfers. Italian football was booming and the money was flowing. This meant that Europe's finest were arriving on to Italy's shores. It meant these sides were powerhouses in Europe. And yet still no-one could replicate Milan's success. Juventus reached the final three years running 1996-1998 yet could only win that first one against Ajax. Dortmund prevented them from achieving history and Real Madrid made sure it was only one success in three for the Old Lady. It was side which deserved to be regarded as one of the best ever and yet because they failed to defend their crown, that Juve side are not spoke of as highly as they should.
Towards the late 90's Spain started to emerge as strong European contenders, Real Madrid would reach three finals (1997, 2000, 2002) winning twice and Valencia would reach back to back finals in 2000 and 2001 yet would fail to win both games. Yet those clubs would struggle during the 2000's and it was a time for the rise of England's dominance.
During the 2000’s Milan and Barcelona would battle the might of the English, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all reaching the final. In fact English sides reached the final every season between 2005 and 2009. Yet there was only side who would reach back to back finals, Manchester United in 2008 and 2009.
Here it was, after defeating Chelsea in 2008 Alex Ferguson had a chance to go down in history as one of only handful of coaches to successfully defend his clubs European crown. It could well have been an identical final had Iniesta not scored that last second goal to put Chelsea out. Unfortunately that was the year when Guardiola had taken the reigns at Camp Nou and a special something was emerging.
Guardiola's ambition
Guardiola would deny Ferguson history twice. In 2009 he prevented him back to back titles and in 2011 he would deny him the chance to end his career with three European cups. Unfortunately for Ferguson the side he had assembled just was not on the same level as this Barcelona one. No-one else was. And yet even they could not overcome the 'curse of Sacchi'.
During Guardiola’s four year reign at Barcelona the intention was clear; win back to back Champions League’s and prove to be as great as those previous sides of Madrid, Benfica, Ajax, Bayern, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and of course Milan. Many had tried to defend their crown yet many had failed.
In this Barcelona side we witnessed one of the best ever teams seen, surely if anyone was to break Sacchi’s curse then it would be this side. And yet they couldn't do it, whether the pressure of expectation was too strong we do not know yet twice they tried and twice they failed.
It was close, Barcelona would reach the semi-final’s the following season yet fate or luck would look down on them and make their task harder. A volcanic eruption meant flights could not happen and they had to take a bus across country to Milan to play Inter. They lost 3-1. In the return leg they could not break down Mourinho’s defensive structure until the final moments, and when they did actually score a winning second, the referee gave a dubious hand ball decision Luck was not with them and the chance of back to back success was gone.
As we know they would recapture it the following season, defeating Manchester United once again. It was a majestic performance and proved that this team was as great as any before it. Guardiola could not resist one more shot to make history and stayed another year. It proved costly, for him and the side.
The focus of the whole season was on the Champions League, they effectively surrendered the league in the hope of defending their European crown. And yet in their way was Chelsea, their nemesis, their anti-thesis. Whether it was Sacchi or fate looking down on them in that tie once again who knows, yet the chances they had in the first leg which they failed to convert meant no away goal and 1-0 deficit.
The pressure, expectation and the knowledge of the players and the coach that this was the last throw of the dice was evident. Yet 2-0 up at half time looked it was all going well. And then…out of nowhere Ramires scored a delightful lob and it’s 2-1. The expression of the players said it all…shock.
In the second half Lionel Messi, who has never scored against Chelsea, missed a crucial penalty which would have given Barca the lead and psychological advantage went to Chelsea. That miss, that tie, showed how hard it is to defend your crown, the pressure is enormous. Barca would go out in the semi’s once again and the hopes of replicating Milan (of who Barca and Guardiola were often compared to in terms of ‘revolutionary’ football) were gone.
The rise of Bayern
Enter the next challenger. During the period of Barcelona's dominance the impressive form of Bayern Munich was not really mentioned. Dortmund were winning back to back league titles and Bayern were not considered a ‘dominant’ force in Europe. Although they reached the final in 2010 all the focus was on Mourinho and the Inter side which defeated Barca. And Bayern were somewhat subdued by Mourinho’s aura that night.
Even reaching the final in 2012 didn’t alert many to their rise, yet two finals in three years should have shown something was brewing. Yet they would lose in their own stadium to Chelsea on penalties and would be considered ‘chokers’. It was not until the 2012/13 season where Bayern proved themselves as Europe’s best. A third final in four was proof that this side was very good, yet success was necessary to hush the doubters and make them 'great'.
Although they appeared on the ropes for much of it a last minute winner proved that this Bayern team had what it takes. It was deserved their season was spectacular, particularly the 7-0 destruction of (symbolically) Barcelona in the semi-finals. Third time lucky, yet now the expectation and pressure is on Bayern to defend their crown.
The added weight on them now is different to that of being a perennial runner up, being at the top can be the hardest of all. Everyone wants to take you down; fans, media and of course opposition coaches. The question now is, are Bayern capable of dealing with the ‘bullesye’ on their chests?
Well perhaps their method and ‘evolution’ may allow them to make history. Pep Guardiola who was unveiled last week was the man every top club wanted. A smart man, he has chosen well in Bayern. The man who excited the world with his style of football at Barcelona and proved that there was substance as well as style, makes Bayern’s hopes of defending their European trophy all the more possible.
He knows there is pressure on him, it will be hard to replicate what Bayern did last season, yet he really has one job to do this season – defend Bayern's Champions League crown.
History is against them
Can they do it? When considering that no-one has managed to achieve it since 1990 then you can see that it will not be an easy feat. You cannot help but think that realistically they won’t do it.
The beauty of the Champions League today is that the level of competition is so high. In the past European football was different; culturally, travel and the lack of ‘transfer’ activity meant that sides could dominate for years without serious competition. It is different now. There are many clubs who possess world class players and coaches and all believe and want success in Europe. It has made the tournament a great spectacle yet it makes defending the trophy so very difficult. Even Barcelona, the best team ever could not defend their title (three times from 2006 they reached the semi’s after winning) and this points towards a similar situation at Bayern.
Yes they got past their mind block of finals defeat and it is clear that this side is at this time the best in Europe, yet Real Madrid cannot be discounted now they have Ancelotti. The issues these past three years still did not stop them reaching three semi-finals, this team is excellent and with Isco arriving they have a new dimension to their game.
Barcelona will be up there without question (yet a change of coach may be needed). Juventus look incredibly strong now their strikeforce consists of Llorente and Tevez and Man City, who possess a world class team, now have a coach who understands European football. Evidently Bayern will be regarded as favourites yet there are many other sides who the potential to win the tournament.
An tampering idealist could be trouble
Another worry concerns Guardiola himself. Yes he was excellent for Barca yet he was Barca. He knew the club, the values and the philosophy and perfected it. Bayern is a great club too yet different to Barca. Culturally and on the pitch. One wonders (worries) that Guardiola will seek to ‘Barca-sify’ this Bayern team, if so it would be a mistake.
In possession Bayern have proven to have many ‘weapons’ in terms of style and personnel which has made them so difficult to play against, the word ‘complete’ has being used by this blog. Barcelona’s problem, which at first was their brilliance, was that they had one way to play. It was great, yet it became predictable. Surely Guardiola will not take away their variety and 'arsenal' over his ideology?
Can Guardiola embrace what he has inherited or will he seek to make Gotze his Messi and deploy a false-nine system. Of course it can be used, yet the role of Mandzukic both in and out of possession was a major factor in Bayern’s success last year and Guardiola should not be so quick to dismiss the Croatian.
As for defensively, Bayern again had mastered many aspects, notably the near ‘perfection’ of Gegenpressing, yet will Guardiola wish a higher pressing game to what Barca had? Is change necessary for their success or will it lead to failure? The high pressing game is very tiring and fatiguing and this is why Barca and Spain seek to dominate possession so much, for the most part in order to rest. Yet Gegenpressing seeks to expose space behind defences in order to counter attack quickly. It is a much more attacking defensive tactic (with the right forwards) as well as being more secure defensively (as it offers less room behind).
Jupp Heynckes was loved by the players at Bayern and they will be quick to judge what Guardiola offers the team in terms of personality and tactics. The key man in all this however is Matthias Sammer. It was evident that his arrival last summer was a major factor in Bayern’s dominance, desire and focus. If Sammer is on board with Guardiola’s approach then rest assured the players will be too.
What is for sure is that Guardiola has inherited a world class team who is in a better position than Barca were when he took over. Yet this can also be a problem. Those Barca players needed ‘saving’ from a reign which was losing control and professionalism. He was the ‘white Knight’ and the players loved him (of course he was also an idol to many from his playing days). Not only this but he was an ‘unknown’ quantity to many outside of Barca when he took over in 2008, he arrives at Bayern with the world watching him.
The expectation and pressure is huge because he is expected, by many, to do better than last year. This is probably impossible yet rest assured he will be judged on his ability to defend their domestic title and importantly win that back-back European crown. If he does then it will be an amazing achievement by him, yet also the club. This is his first season yet this club has reached three of the last four finals, this highlights their strength. Guardiola signifies their evolution and desire to never 'stop' being in flux. This situation is similar to when Dettmar Cramer took over Bayern in 1974 after their first European success under Udo Lattek. It may be that the same pattern is emerging with Guardiola - could this mean three in a row?
Three in a row? In the modern game? The realist would tell you this is not possible. Recent history proves that winning the Champions League is hard, yet defending them is nearly impossible. As good as Bayern are history appears against them and their coach this season. One wonders of he does 'fail' to win this season how will people consider his talents and reputation? It would be fairer to judge him after 2016 when he departs Bayern, yet this is modern football, and that kind of long term patience is not a characteristic of today's game.
Right now Guardiola is all smiles, yet there is no doubt that he found himself battling with history, it is quite the unenviable situation. Without doubt this will be fascinating.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
Related articles
- Are Bayern The Most Complete Team Ever?
- Part IV - The Rise of the Bundesliga
- A Few Thoughts on Guardiola's Decision
- The End of Barcelona’s Golden Generation?
- The End of an Era at Camp Nou
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