Pep Guardiola believes Real Madrid and Barcelona are the hardest clubs in the world to manage. The Manchester City manager spoke ahead of City’s Champions League meeting with Real Madrid. He also shared sympathy for Xabi Alonso, who faces growing pressure at the Spanish club.
Reports in Spain suggest Alonso could lose his job if Real Madrid suffer defeat against Manchester City. Guardiola worked with Alonso at Bayern Munich and still holds great respect for him. He said their time together created a strong bond on and off the pitch. According to Guardiola, Alonso is not only a smart football mind but also a good person and a trusted colleague.
Guardiola explained why Real Madrid and Barcelona come with such intense pressure. He said the two clubs demand constant success and offer little patience to managers. He even suggested that he would have been sacked if he delivered the same results he had last season while managing either of the Spanish giants. The expectations, he said, are higher than anywhere else in the world.
The City boss also noted that Real Madrid’s current situation is complicated by injuries. He understands how tough it is to build a team when important players are missing. He said City faced similar problems last season. Still, Guardiola believes Alonso has the skills and character to lead Real Madrid through difficult periods.
He added that every manager must win to avoid problems, no matter the league or country. But the pressure is much stronger in Spain. In England, he said, journalists do not know what happens inside dressing rooms. In Spain, however, information spreads quickly, and everyone seems to know everything.
Guardiola ended by repeating his support for Alonso and his belief that the Spanish coach can succeed at Real Madrid if given the chance.
