GUARDIOLA DIDN'T INVENT ANYTHING

So written it sounds strange. And, after reading everything it's possible than more than one will curse or will  tell me that I have no idea, it can also be.

The fact is that, after seeing Guardiola many years as a player, coach and now as a lecturer, I have increasingly more clear that what he has always done the best is being a pupil. Cruyff, Capello, Lillo, Bielsa, Menotti, Van Gaal, etc.. Guardiola has learned from all of them. He has  heard, he has seen, with many of them in person, their ways of working, their methodology, their understanding of football. And having done that, it has gathered all together with his innate intelligence and leadership skills, communication and work and has made an outstanding blend.

Now, to invent, what is said to invent , I think he hasn't done it. The "1-4-3-3" is used for many years, the "1-3-4-3" was introduced by Cruyff, at the defensive rigor, Capello, rigor and control, of Van Gaal, the spirit of group by Lillo, the philosophy as a concept for working, from Bielsa or Menotti, etc.. But he has had this point to know what was the most profitable of each and then, and later, as a good student, he is best the known understanding the "Principles of the Game" and applying them. In this, I think he is the best, no doubt.

On the Web there are, in the last days, some lectures given recently in South America. Above all, one where he talks about why he changed the position of Messi, who has become a "TOP". I've seen it, as many people, and I come to the following conclusions:

1) Guardiola knows as any other coach how his players are. What "features" they have at technical, tactical level, etc.. What they know and what they can do. The strengths and weaknesses. If they are fast, explosive, patients, "diesel", if they good headers, to the right or to the left. If they run better with or without the ball, etc. This is something that all those who say we are, or want to be, coaches, should know very carefully.

2) Guardiola is a student of football. Of his team, of his opponents and, of any group of eleven guys who play football against another group of eleven dressed in different colors, whatever the place on earth. Scan everything he sees and always looks for the "why" Why do they do this move? Why they don't do that? Why do they go to the right? Why to the left? Why they do not go? Why ...?

3) And, as I said, Guardiola applies the "Principles of football" as anyone. Contrary to what people may think, Guardiola is the most orthodox of all coaches. All of him is pure orthodoxy "Rationa occupatios of space (The ball give us the order)", "Changes of orientation (start on one side, finish at the other)", "Walls (2v1)", "Free espces (winger comes in, full-back appears at the outside"), "Conservation of the ball", "Change of Pace", "support (the false "9")", etc.. and defensive principles, too: "Pressing (do you remember, don't you?)", "Cover", "Markings", "Permanent support" etc..

That is, Guardiola has not implemented anything we did not know, especially for  those who have done the Caoching Courses with the books of the Spanish Federation. What happens to us is that many times we want to be more Catholic than the Pope, and want to invent the "garlic soup" and, apply names to things that already exist and are already named. And all this is already invented. The concepts are the same for everyone. What sets us apart is how we apply and, above all, why we apply this or that way. In this, Pep it's a big "inventor", because he does what his teachers told him. He has achieved what the "Master" Johan Cruyff used to say: The hardest thing is to keep things simple. And he does.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

LACK OF CULTURE IN FOOTBALL

Today, April 23rd, is "Sant Jordi" (Saint George), World Book Day. I think it is a very appropriate day to write about the lack of culture and reading in football.

From always it has been said that the football world was uneducated, with no studies, that they did not read, that they knew about additions and subtractions and a little bit more. Well, I think it's true. If not, it couldn't be understood that, with the amount of writing, news, information, blogs, etc.. that there are today in the world, the coaches continue to do ours.

And I'll explain. Still not finished the game (whatever it is), and there are already hundreds of  analysis on the next explaining what has been done wrong, why the match is lost and so on. If the player "X" must be Attacking Mifielder and not Central midfielder, if "Y" must be more wide, if "Z" was too wide and allowed to enter the #10 of the opponents, if you can not play with 3 defender under the current conditions, if that player is in bad shape ... all you want.

But that's not the worst. The worst thing is that everyone has solutions. Infallible, too. "X" must be the "false 9"; "Y" should play as Full-back; "Z" calls for being starter with his performances, rather than I don't know who; not to play high pressure, as you'll be caught at the back; don't wait and see, because you're away from goal; the 4-2-3-1 system is better (by the way, is 1-4-2-3-1, the Goalkeeper is quite important, ep!), that 1-4-3-3), the wingers have to play switched flanks and much more.

But we, coaches don't have culture and don't like to read. How can we avoidt everything the others say? How can we put always the same players? How is it possible that each week plays a different team? How is it possible that the player who misses so many chances to continue playing?How is it possible that Middfielder of the second team doesn'tt have opportunities? How is it possible that everyone has solutions without watching the training sessions and without knowing what happens inside the locker room?

Again. Lack of culture and reading. That's why we lose games and championships. Or maybe not?

Happy "Sant Jordi's" day to all. And read, read a lot!