Nice vid. I really miss those days, damn. As good as the current team is, that football was incredible, so dominant.

Can't believe we ended up losing that game ffs

In this video: Jack the Lionheart chases shadows.

RG, pls respond.

Pep Guardiola will be the last candidate in the political list for independence for the 27S plebisicitary elections in catalonia. (number 135, has no chance to be elected as parlamentary but he'll give his support).

FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, who has a special relationship with his former coach Pep Guardiola, has revealed how it felt to play against him.

Guardiola and Messi won 14 trophies together at the Nou Camp before the Spanish coach left the club to take a sabbatical, after which he joined Bayern Munich.

They met again during last season’s Champions League semi-final and Messi explained that it is strange to come up against his former mentor.

"It is quite odd seeing him in the opposition dugout,” he told adidas.

“Everyone knows what a great relationship I have with him, and I will always be grateful for what he did for me, how he developed me as a player, the teams that he built. I will always wish him luck.

"But, when you play against somebody, you freeze those personal feelings out for the duration of the game. It is all about winning, for me and him."

Messi also stated it’s good for football that Guardiola is creating another powerhouse at Bayern Munich.

"Pep is doing great things with Bayern Munich and is creating a team similar to the one he had at Barcelona, but with different players, and subtle differences,” he added.

“He is always trying new things, and that is a good thing for the game of football.

“We want strong competition within Europe, so I am happy that Pep is creating another powerhouse of a side that can compete against the La Liga teams.”

"This year everyone will do what I say and how I want. I say how things go and you will listen to me. There is only one player in the world that doesn't have to listen to me - Messi."

Thought you guys might appreciate these video. The bit where Iniesta and busquets pass the ball with back heels is just disgusting.



This was great as well.

Thanks, now I miss Xavi even more! I can't pass the ball in that manner even on video games

How do you guys think he will fare at Man City?

And also, what do you make of his tenure at Bayern? Would you consider him a failure if he doesn't win the CL?

No, I don't consider him a failure if he doesn't win the Champions League. Winning that trophy is such an insanely hard thing to do, that requires so many variables as well as luck. And by the manner his team plays, and how easily they walk the Bundis, I would say he has achieved his goal and proved he can create a winning and fierce team besides his previous work he did with us. I think people expecting any manager to just up and win the Champions league every single season with every club they manege are very unrealistic.

I also don't agree he took "the easy job" going to City. I mainly hear this from Utd fans and fans of other EPL clubs (or Pep haters). City has achieved squat in the Champions League, and hasn't won the EPL or dominated the EPL in some time. So him going there, is him going to a club that's still trying to get past the "work in progress" phase of the club, since they still haven't really found an identity. If he arrives and City starts to dominate and play beautiful football then that alone will make him a success imo. Winning the UCl is also gonna be tricky. I also give him a few seasons before he really puts his stamp on City, as that club still requires allot of work before it can improve (lots of areas require to be upgraded or tinkered with, so it's gonna take a few windows)

All in all, I still rank Pep as the best manager in world football.

This is what Robben said,

Robben: "We are already talking in the past when we are still enjoying him! Overall it is just a great experience to work with him because with him, it’s football 24-7. He thinks constantly about how to make the team better and how to improve players."

Robben: "He’ll get some players to play in a different position not just because he thinks that better for the team but also because he thinks the qualities of the player can be used better. These little changes are quite interesting; this flexibility. Normally I played on the wing but under him I’ve played in midfield, I’ve played behind the striker, I’ve played as a striker on the right side."

Robben: "Pep failed to improve Heynckes' Bayern? "I disagree. Each team is different because it’s a new manager with his own philosophy"

Robben "I think you can also say we are better, the way we developed as a team, the way we are playing very dominant football"

Robben "Under Guardiola, We are even more flexible, we can play different systems"

Robben "Maybe before, if you win the Treble, what can you say? What can improve? You’ve won the maximum amount of titles"

Robben "Football-wise, technically, the system—we’ve developed as a team. Even more I feel the players individually have improved under"

Robben "Pep shows his emotions on the pitch and on the training pitch"

Robben "You have managers who sit still for 90 minutes on the bench and say something at half-time".

Robben "Then you've managers who are more emotional, like Klopp at Liverpool. I like it. I enjoy it. He’s there. He’s full commitment, 100%"

Robben "Pep will definitely put his philosophy on the Manchester City team"

Robben "The way Pep thinks about football, how football has to be played, that’s what he wants to bring to Manchester"

Robben "It's going to be interesting with the squad Man City has now and what players are coming in and it will be a curious project to follow"

windkick wrote:No, I don't consider him a failure if he doesn't win the Champions League. Winning that trophy is such an insanely hard thing to do, that requires so many variables as well as luck. And by the manner his team plays, and how easily they walk the Bundis, I would say he has achieved his goal and proved he can create a winning and fierce team besides his previous work he did with us. I think people expecting any manager to just up and win the Champions league every single season with every club they manege are very unrealistic.

I also don't agree he took "the easy job" going to City. I mainly hear this from Utd fans and fans of other EPL clubs (or Pep haters). City has achieved squat in the Champions League, and hasn't won the EPL or dominated the EPL in some time. So him going there, is him going to a club that's still trying to get past the "work in progress" phase of the club, since they still haven't really found an identity. If he arrives and City starts to dominate and play beautiful football then that alone will make him a success imo. Winning the UCl is also gonna be tricky. I also give him a few seasons before he really puts his stamp on City, as that club still requires allot of work before it can improve (lots of areas require to be upgraded or tinkered with, so it's gonna take a few windows)

All in all, I still rank Pep as the best manager in world football.

True. I find it ridiculous that people expect him to win CL wherever he goes. He has left his mark on the team. It was a peculiar situation for him to inherit a CL winning team. I wonder how much credit he deserves if Carlo goes on to win CL at Bayern though.

Man City will be a very interesting project. I want to see him improve in his CL away ties more than anything, but there's a long way to go before that challenge comes in his way. He will have to make a mark in the PL and the competition is going to be immense.

I also think this will be a club where the youth ranks are not so heavily linked with the first team. Pep has taken advantage of a good youth system at Barca and at Bayern (maybe not to the same extent).

Do you guys see any Barca players jumping ship to City? I think maybe Alves could go.

Winter is Coming wrote:This is what Robben said,

Robben: "We are already talking in the past when we are still enjoying him! Overall it is just a great experience to work with him because with him, it’s football 24-7. He thinks constantly about how to make the team better and how to improve players."

Robben: "He’ll get some players to play in a different position not just because he thinks that better for the team but also because he thinks the qualities of the player can be used better. These little changes are quite interesting; this flexibility. Normally I played on the wing but under him I’ve played in midfield, I’ve played behind the striker, I’ve played as a striker on the right side."

Robben: "Pep failed to improve Heynckes' Bayern? "I disagree. Each team is different because it’s a new manager with his own philosophy"

Robben "I think you can also say we are better, the way we developed as a team, the way we are playing very dominant football"

Robben "Under Guardiola, We are even more flexible, we can play different systems"

Robben "Maybe before, if you win the Treble, what can you say? What can improve? You’ve won the maximum amount of titles"

Robben "Football-wise, technically, the system—we’ve developed as a team. Even more I feel the players individually have improved under"

Robben "Pep shows his emotions on the pitch and on the training pitch"

Robben "You have managers who sit still for 90 minutes on the bench and say something at half-time".

Robben "Then you've managers who are more emotional, like Klopp at Liverpool. I like it. I enjoy it. He’s there. He’s full commitment, 100%"

Robben "Pep will definitely put his philosophy on the Manchester City team"

Robben "The way Pep thinks about football, how football has to be played, that’s what he wants to bring to Manchester"

Robben "It's going to be interesting with the squad Man City has now and what players are coming in and it will be a curious project to follow"

Some beautiful quotes right there.

To answer you, I don't think any Barca players go to City. The only player he took from us the entire time at Bayern, was our hottest young midfield prospect that we didn't use that he already trusted from his time with us. I don't see any player currently in our squad that he could realistically pouch from us in that mold (our senior players aren't going to City).

I think City will leave us alone and look elsewhere, like the Bundis since that's what Pep is now more familiar with, to rebuild City.

Oh I just checked Alves has a contract till 2017. I thought he only got a one year extension, that's why thought that he might just leave on a free to City.

I think he'll try to sign Thiago for City. It would be great that Thiago finnally becomes a starter and dominates the midfield by himself.

I got a feelign Bayern wouldn't sell Thiago to Pep.

But if he does sign Weigl and Thiago, City's midfield would drastically improve. I think more than likely he lands Weigl and Gundogan (Would suck to see Dortmund get super neutered after just getting back to playing at a top level)

i can see pep going for bartra.. i mean he is linked to the manchester clubs prior to pep anyways.

Winter is Coming wrote:This is what Robben said,

Robben: "We are already talking in the past when we are still enjoying him! Overall it is just a great experience to work with him because with him, it’s football 24-7. He thinks constantly about how to make the team better and how to improve players."

Robben: "He’ll get some players to play in a different position not just because he thinks that better for the team but also because he thinks the qualities of the player can be used better. These little changes are quite interesting; this flexibility. Normally I played on the wing but under him I’ve played in midfield, I’ve played behind the striker, I’ve played as a striker on the right side."

Robben: "Pep failed to improve Heynckes' Bayern? "I disagree. Each team is different because it’s a new manager with his own philosophy"

Robben "I think you can also say we are better, the way we developed as a team, the way we are playing very dominant football"

Robben "Under Guardiola, We are even more flexible, we can play different systems"

Robben "Maybe before, if you win the Treble, what can you say? What can improve? You’ve won the maximum amount of titles"

Robben "Football-wise, technically, the system—we’ve developed as a team. Even more I feel the players individually have improved under"

Robben "Pep shows his emotions on the pitch and on the training pitch"

Robben "You have managers who sit still for 90 minutes on the bench and say something at half-time".

Robben "Then you've managers who are more emotional, like Klopp at Liverpool. I like it. I enjoy it. He’s there. He’s full commitment, 100%"

Robben "Pep will definitely put his philosophy on the Manchester City team"

Robben "The way Pep thinks about football, how football has to be played, that’s what he wants to bring to Manchester"

Robben "It's going to be interesting with the squad Man City has now and what players are coming in and it will be a curious project to follow"

Arjen is spot on with everything, and it's clear how much our players have enjoyed working with Pep.
Robben has developed so much personality-wise since joining us.

Hapless_Hans wrote:

Winter is Coming wrote:This is what Robben said,

Robben: "We are already talking in the past when we are still enjoying him! Overall it is just a great experience to work with him because with him, it’s football 24-7. He thinks constantly about how to make the team better and how to improve players."

Robben: "He’ll get some players to play in a different position not just because he thinks that better for the team but also because he thinks the qualities of the player can be used better. These little changes are quite interesting; this flexibility. Normally I played on the wing but under him I’ve played in midfield, I’ve played behind the striker, I’ve played as a striker on the right side."

Robben: "Pep failed to improve Heynckes' Bayern? "I disagree. Each team is different because it’s a new manager with his own philosophy"

Robben "I think you can also say we are better, the way we developed as a team, the way we are playing very dominant football"

Robben "Under Guardiola, We are even more flexible, we can play different systems"

Robben "Maybe before, if you win the Treble, what can you say? What can improve? You’ve won the maximum amount of titles"

Robben "Football-wise, technically, the system—we’ve developed as a team. Even more I feel the players individually have improved under"

Robben "Pep shows his emotions on the pitch and on the training pitch"

Robben "You have managers who sit still for 90 minutes on the bench and say something at half-time".

Robben "Then you've managers who are more emotional, like Klopp at Liverpool. I like it. I enjoy it. He’s there. He’s full commitment, 100%"

Robben "Pep will definitely put his philosophy on the Manchester City team"

Robben "The way Pep thinks about football, how football has to be played, that’s what he wants to bring to Manchester"

Robben "It's going to be interesting with the squad Man City has now and what players are coming in and it will be a curious project to follow"

Arjen is spot on with everything, and it's clear how much our players have enjoyed working with Pep.
Robben has developed so much personality-wise since joining us.

Interesting. When you say personality, you're saying on the pitch or off it? Or both?

Watching last night's game, I believe Pep has improved from when he was at Barca.

Or, at the very least, he has shown a side he did not show here. Maybe because of our deeply rooted Cruyffian philosophy.

He's shown such a great diversity of tactics. He still has that overthinking syndrome in away games, but has been able to handle it much better imo.

I am very excited to see his tenure at Man City. The managerial showdowns are going to be GOAT.

CM Pep wrote:

Hapless_Hans wrote:

Winter is Coming wrote:This is what Robben said,

Robben: "We are already talking in the past when we are still enjoying him! Overall it is just a great experience to work with him because with him, it’s football 24-7. He thinks constantly about how to make the team better and how to improve players."

Robben: "He’ll get some players to play in a different position not just because he thinks that better for the team but also because he thinks the qualities of the player can be used better. These little changes are quite interesting; this flexibility. Normally I played on the wing but under him I’ve played in midfield, I’ve played behind the striker, I’ve played as a striker on the right side."

Robben: "Pep failed to improve Heynckes' Bayern? "I disagree. Each team is different because it’s a new manager with his own philosophy"

Robben "I think you can also say we are better, the way we developed as a team, the way we are playing very dominant football"

Robben "Under Guardiola, We are even more flexible, we can play different systems"

Robben "Maybe before, if you win the Treble, what can you say? What can improve? You’ve won the maximum amount of titles"

Robben "Football-wise, technically, the system—we’ve developed as a team. Even more I feel the players individually have improved under"

Robben "Pep shows his emotions on the pitch and on the training pitch"

Robben "You have managers who sit still for 90 minutes on the bench and say something at half-time".

Robben "Then you've managers who are more emotional, like Klopp at Liverpool. I like it. I enjoy it. He’s there. He’s full commitment, 100%"

Robben "Pep will definitely put his philosophy on the Manchester City team"

Robben "The way Pep thinks about football, how football has to be played, that’s what he wants to bring to Manchester"

Robben "It's going to be interesting with the squad Man City has now and what players are coming in and it will be a curious project to follow"

Arjen is spot on with everything, and it's clear how much our players have enjoyed working with Pep.
Robben has developed so much personality-wise since joining us.

Interesting. When you say personality, you're saying on the pitch or off it? Or both?

On the pitch, mainly
I'm not aware of any off the pitch personality problems of his

That's what I was wondering too.

Sometimes i feel like people love him as a person rather than a coach

It's actually the opposite for me

He seems like a snobby jerk to be honest, but as a coach he's a genius.

Yeah I think Ibra said that he's good as a coach, but sh!t as a person.

I'd also add it more seems like if your good with him he's good with you, but if you aren't he's a complete d!ck

See how pretty his reaction is.how can you hate him
Ibra himself is the problem.he called mourinho a good person