While there is no doubt that Pep Guardiola the supervisor will go down as one of many best to ever step foot contained in the technical space, it is nonetheless price noting down simply how spectacular Guardiola the midfielder was.
The Spaniard ended his enjoying profession with one Champions League to his identify, six Spanish titles, an Olympic gold medal and lots extra in an unimaginable profession which largely featured success with Barcelona. It is a credit score to his managerial work that his time on the pitch is commonly positioned second in his lengthy checklist of achievements.
Not everybody has forgotten the participant earlier than the supervisor, nonetheless, and the late nice Johan Cruyff beforehand took the time to reward each variations of Guardiola.
“He’s doing very properly, step-by-step, doing issues the best way he thinks they need to do. He’s attentive to each element and all the time tries to get essentially the most out of every participant.
“I’m very fortunate to have coached individuals like Guardiola. This isn’t nearly profitable a recreation; it’s one thing else. And that’s what provides me most satisfaction.”
The previous Barcelona star additionally featured in probably the most star-studded eras in soccer historical past. He shared a dressing room with Ronald Koeman, Ronaldo Nazário and Romario, while squaring off in opposition to the likes of Raul and Roberto Carlos.
One participant he did not have the pleasure of assembly on the pitch or within the dressing room, nonetheless, is Wayne Rooney. As an alternative, Guardiola was pressured to understand the Manchester United legend from the technical space at each Manchester Metropolis and Barcelona, which solely peaked his appreciation for the previous England star.
The Man Metropolis boss even went so far as describing Rooney as “among the finest” that he has seen in his profession again in 2014. But, as impressed as he so usually was by one of many Premier League’s greats, Guardiola additionally beforehand claimed that Rooney’s England teammate was, the truth is, far more durable to play in opposition to.
Guardiola reveals why Crouch was more durable to play in opposition to than Rooney
It nearly by some means feels completely proper that Guardiola would have a particular appreciation for a participant like Peter Crouch. While usually underrated by many, Crouch can now say that he as soon as had the complete consideration of arguably the best supervisor of all time.
The Man Metropolis boss wrote a sequence of columns in regards to the 2006 World Cup and took the chance to disclose why Crouch is harder to play in opposition to than the legendary Rooney.
“Wayne Rooney is probably extra decisive and exquisite to observe. However what’s sure is that Crouch situations you extra. With Crouch, you must play to Crouch’s recreation and enjoying to Crouch’s recreation provides you a large number.
“He is aware of what he is doing, each along with his head and his ft. The most effective virtues is his link-up play, he is not simply there for crosses into the field. He is aware of how one can hold the play flowing. He will get the ball a thousand instances within the air and all the time retains it. It appears easy, however only a few strikers can and know how one can do it.”
In only a small perception into the thoughts of Guardiola even earlier than he turned the supervisor that he’s at this time, Crouch acquired among the highest reward of his profession.
Alas, it’s actually reward that he deserves. The previous Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker ended his time on the pitch with a complete of 108 high flight targets and stays probably the most technical tall strikers that the Premier League has seen, additionally racking up 22 strikes for England in simply 42 caps.
