Article: Josep Guardiola’s greatest achievement: Barça B (Part 4/4)

This is the fourth part of four that I wrote for @Footballcantera about Josep Guardiolas first season coaching as he took over Barça B in 2007.

The success

Growing up at La Masia himself, Guardiola knew exactly how to motivate his players to get the most out of them. He would often play the “It’s an honor to play for Barça” card, or similar. Making his players take note of the shirt they were wearing and ensuring they knew they were not only representing a fourth division team, they were representing Barça. As the season went on Pep would find solutions to the teams problems, relying on instinct and experience to motivate, inspire and get the best out of them. When the team reached the promotion play-offs, he told them “We’ve made it this far together, now it’s time for YOU to win promotion.”

Another way he would motivate his players was by taking them to lunch if they won three games in a row. It became more expensive than he’d thought as he would end up taking the team out three times that season.

Sometimes he would motivate his players by given them challenges. When the youngster Gai Assulin returned after making his first team debut with the Israeli national team, Pep would tell him: “This weekend – go out and score a goal.” Gai would make two assist and score the third goal in the game that weekend.

Guardiola had a lot to transmit to his players, but he was still humble. And knew that defensive work wasn’t his strong side, so when needed he would take help. Juanma Lillo saw all the games of Barça B team that season and directly after each game Guardiola would call him for advice. Each week Pep would also go to the defensive training session set up by Rodolf Borrell (now at Liverpool) who coached one of the clubs youth teams. Pep went there to observe and learn.