Pep Guardiola praises Rijkaard's 3-4-3 in 2007

Dirario Sport managed to dig up one of Pep's articles before his time, and it's very enjoyable. A rare find to be able to hear Pep's point of view in this form. Worth the read - unfortunately it is in Spanish.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/Sentirlo/elpepidep/20070302elpepidep_6/Tes

Sentirlo (Feeling It)
02/03/2007

In the last page of the newspaper La Vanguardia yesterday, the actress Norma Aleando commented that many people win the lottery and they don't even know it. I believe that for those who love Barça (a lot) and football (even more) it's been time since we won the lottery. And the best part is that we know it. From the hands of a Dutch and a Catalan.

I'm sorry, Norma.

It seems, from what they say, that the dream team came back against Zaragoza; I think the dream team has never left.

"Victory appeals me and I realize that the way that approaches her the most is taking control. I would never think about playing a game without stepping into the opponent's half". Marvelous phrase from Marcelo Bielsa that Barcelona has made their own more than a decade ago. In Barcelona we understand that we can win a thousand ways. All of them valid. All of them work. But in Barcelona we also understand that you can never win and win again without a style that you feel. A style that that the bosses don't feel, or the coaches, the players, the friends at the press, and the people that come watch us every week.

I believe that the actual Barça players feel this. They feel it, because many saw their closest predecessors do it. They feel it because they have seen themselves do it and winning with it (how much winning reinforces convictions...) and because they know that since they have done it, they can do it again. If they didn't feel it this way, they would win. But some day. They wouldn't win all the time. You can't go from playing a defensive line with four players, to playing with three, and I mean three not five, and do it as if it was something ordinary. And doing it well. And winning and being in the semi-finals of the Copa.

I think, and maybe I'm mistaken, but that's what I see: they like to play through the ball. That they attack and defend with the ball and that they understand that it can't be that the ball is there and we're here; the ball up there and the rest down here. They feel that instead of moving a lot towards the ball, it's better to wait and receive it. It will come. They feel that the forwards to triumph and show up in the papers they need a good ball from the midfielders, and these, to be able to do that, need a good ball from their defenders. I pass it to you and you pass it to them. Ronaldinho knows he's better with Eto'o and Eto'o knows he's better with Ronaldinho. They have their attributes, but together they're better than alone. They insist in knowing where the free man is in every moment, and they know that it's better that the free man is Iniesta than a full back.

They know that Iniesta and Xavi are compatible. And why wouldn't they be, joder? They understand, like any good collective play, that when you start on the right flank it's best to finish in the left flank, and that a backpass doesn't mean they're scared but merely the beginning of a better play. They feel that the chance will arrive and that the possession by itself is nothing, but it's a tool to reach the goal. That it's better for the wingers to get the ball from the center than from the fullbacks. That if the three small ones play (Deco-Xavi-Iniesta), like against Zaragoza, the canteranos must take care of control and the elaboration of the play, and Deco of the finishing. They feel that if we have to play with three in the back, well then we'll play with three, but those three have to have the legs of Oleguer and Puyol. And they also know that they have the best player in the world with them, or almost, and that if we talk about knowing to play football, not about being more decisive, not about making plays, I reiterate, about knowing how to play football, we have the best two midfielders in the world. But that all these bests and almost best players, in another environment they would struggle to be just almosts. They know it. Or that way they feel it.

Or that's what I think.

And with all this, sometimes, once in a while, they also lose. They lose because of a lack of will. For not sweating the jersey. Or because lately they have eaten a well and a lot. And they're not as hungry anymore. Yes, they also lose for those reasons. Like all the teams in the world. But they also lose because sometimes, Xavi or Deco or Iniesta go steal the ball from the center backs when maybe they shouldn't. Or because sometimes a ball that starts in the right flank ends in the right flank. Or because the third man is used occasionally. Or because Ronaldinho has to receive more balls from Marquez and less from Sylvinho... Or because the transition of attack-defense, from having it to not having it, is maybe slower now. Or because Eto'o is not there. Or what the hell do I know why they lose! But they lose. But they don't only lose from not sweating the jersey. For not running more and more. They lose for other things and they know it. Some because they have been born here and that way they have been educated; others because they have no choice but to learn.

Tomorrow Barça will lose. Or the day after. It happens to all of us. But no one can argue that it's been a long time since Barça is a team with personality. Unique.

And you have no idea how much I like that.

Hours before the game against Zaragoza, Iniesta sent my brother a text message. Mi brother resent it to me. It said: "The dream team is back. I'm playing". Can't you feel how they should play the marvelous craft that is to play fooball?

Do you have any doubt about how they would play against The Beatles?

Will they go through? Will they go home? Don't doubt Bielsa's words.

That 343 costed us the 2006/07 league. It worked terrible against Madrid at home and some other teams. Although I liked our performance against Vilareal, I felt that any good team exploiting the wings would have possibly scored some on us, and if it was the first to score, complicate or even take the game. I truly dislike the 343 and I hope is only played in special situations like this time vs. Vilareal.

Thanks a lot alfred for posting this very rare find. It's a fascinating read. He elaborates a lot on both the strengths and the weaknesses. Maybe during those days in his own mind he was already planning that if he ever got to manage the first team he would improve on all of those weaknesses and how.

Indeed JD,it's really interesting to see how he already has a strong idea of what would become the best team in the world. The part of Iniesta and Xavi being the best midfielders in the world, something no one at the time claimed but he would later prove, is very enlightening. As is the general talk of possession football and how football should be play. By now all of us now the extent of Pep's belief in the system - but the article is very interesting from a historical point of view, he showed a first glimpse of the ideas that would go on to revolutionize Barca a year later.

I also just find interesting to see how well he is able to communicate his ideas, since that's his greatest strength, and it's rare to see him explain it in so many words.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Indeed JD,it's really interesting to see how he already has a strong idea of what would become the best team in the world. The part of Iniesta and Xavi being the best midfielders in the world, something no one at the time claimed but he would later prove, is very enlightening. As is the general talk of possession football and how football should be play. By now all of us now the extent of Pep's belief in the system - but the article is very interesting from a historical point of view, he showed a first glimpse of the ideas that would go on to revolutionize Barca a year later.

I also just find interesting to see how well he is able to communicate his ideas, since that's his greatest strength, and it's rare to see him explain it in so many words.

Very well said.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:They understand ... that a backpass doesn't mean they're scared but merely the beginning of a better play.

That's a nice line. Surprising how the concept is still lost on some.


It must be said though, that with the speed and power of today's game, and the ease in which teams construct counter-attacks, 3-4-3 is a bit of a risky play.

I also thought the 'static' positioning of the wingers was another detriment to the formation. Them coming inside, with the support of the fullbacks, on the outside, has been one of the keys to the success under Pep. I wouldn't trade that for an extra midfielder.

I too would only want to see this formation in very specific situations.

I absolutely agree that it's not a formation for every game, a subject that has been more than explored in the other threads, but when it is played, in the right circumstances, it's a joy to watch. It really makes you feel that this is the way the game should be played.

3 at the back unfortuantly died the days teams became negative.

Gone where 2 strikers, people wanted an extra midfielder and thus, 3 at the back went with it.