When posed with the choice between Manchester City and Barcelona, Pep Guardiola responded with a succinct expletive.
At The Best FIFA Awards 2023 ceremony in London on Monday, Guardiola was honored as the best male coach in the world.
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His leadership led City to a remarkable treble last year, clinching the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.
In five of Guardiola’s seven seasons at the helm, City secured the Premier League title, but their triumph in the Champions League last season marked the first in the club’s history.
While managing the 2008-09 Barcelona team, Guardiola achieved a treble, a feat he repeated last season with City.
The Barcelona squad, often considered the greatest club side ever, featured stars like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Carles Puyol.
City’s accomplishments inevitably sparked comparisons, with key players like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Rodri, and John Stones contributing to their success.
Upon receiving his award, Thierry Henry, the event host, posed the same question to Guardiola. After a brief contemplation, Guardiola reacted by putting his head in his hands and offering a succinct response: “F***.”
He then continued: “I don’t know…it would be a good game! We will see who is the manager [in the opposite dugout]. Both are incredible teams.
“That team in Barcelona was incredible, we were so young. But this team in England, in the Premier League, is really tough and competitive for many competitions. These guys, season by season by season, even this season after winning the treble they are still there.
“Just being with them [the players], not winning or losing but just being with them, is the best award I can get as a manager, by far.”
At the start of his acceptance speech, Guardiola said of his former team: “Barca is the club of my heart, the reason I am here, it is part of my life.”
