Pep Guardiola has admitted that life as a Barcelona coach is full of “small battles from within”, acknowledging former boss Xavi’s criticism of the club.
Xavi publicly pledged to quit the job last season, insisting the constant criticism had affected his mental well-being. He was eventually convinced to reverse his decision, only to be fired shortly before the end of the season.
New manager Hansi Flick is undoubtedly enjoying his start to life in Catalonia, but Guardiola warned the German that Barcelona they have a way of making things unnecessarily difficult for their managers.
“It’s always been that way, and it always will be,” he said TV3. “We’ve all experienced it. Here, the shots come from all sides, every day. But the ones that hurt the most come from within.
“Every day there are little battles inside Barça. In the end, you realize that the only thing that matters is convincing your players of your ideas and what you think should be done. As for the rest, it is best not to get involved for the sake of your own health.
“The danger of the daily fatigue that comes from trying to manage the Barça environment, the constant undermining of what you do… finally takes its toll.”
Despite openly criticizing life as a Barcelona coach, Guardiola insisted the Barça should stay true to their roots and preserve what makes them unique.
“From my point of view, Barça should not change its model,” he said city underline the head “From the outside, everyone sees Barça as something different. This club exudes charisma, a unique essence. What greater compliment could you receive?”
