Pep’s father about Guardiola’s Barcelona plans

The two-time world club coach was named Coach of the Year by the Catalan Football Association on Tuesday at a gala in Barcelona. Because Pep couldn’t be there because of the match against Burnley (4-1), the ManCity coach sent a video message saying: “I’m very proud to be one of the winners”.

His father Valenti Guardiola accepted the prize for the prevented winner – and chatted about his son on stage.

Asked if Pep could ever come back to Barcelona, Papa said: “That could be. But only as a coach.”

Background: This year there had been rumours that Pep could work for FC Barcelona as president. The coach had always denied this, said in June: “Sooner or later I will return to Barcelona. But not as president. To be president, you have to know [what you do] and be prepared – I don’t have that necessary knowledge”.

Now the father revealed that Pep always goes his own way: “Since he left home, he has always made his own decisions. I never advised him.”

After four years as a Barcelona coach, Guardiola left the Catalan club in 2012 and joined the Bavarians after a one-year sabbatical. In 2016 he started his engagement in England with Manchester City.

He collected so many trophies and prizes at every stage that there was no room left at home, the father said. That’s why he wanted to build a museum in Pep’s hometown of Santpedor. But this failed because of his son’s resistance. “Josep is the way he is, and there is no way to convince him,” Dad explained.