While there’s no doubt that manager Pep Guardiola will fall down as one of the greatest steps in the technical area, it’s still worth noting how impressive Guardiola the midfielder was.
The Spaniard finished his playing career in one Champions League with his name, six Spanish titles, Olympic gold medals and an incredible career that achieved great success in Barcelona. His business achievements are that his time on the pitch is often placed second on his long list of accomplishments.
However, not everyone forgot the player before the manager, and the late great Johann Cruyff had previously spent time praising both versions of Guardiola.
“He’s doing very well, step by step, doing things the way he thinks he should do. He’s paying attention to every detail and always trying to make the most of each player.
“I’m very fortunate to coach people like Guardiola. It’s not just about winning the game. It’s something else. That gives me the most pride.”
The former Barcelona star was also one of the most star-studded periods in football history. He shared the dressing room with Ronald Koeman, Ronaldo Nazário and Romario while playing against others with Raul and Roberto Carlos.
But one player he had no pleasure in meeting on the pitch or on the dressing room was Wayne Rooney. Instead, Guardiola was forced to appreciate Manchester United legends from both the technical areas of Manchester City and Barcelona.
The Man City boss even went to describe Rooney in 2014 as “one of the best” he saw of his career. However, as impressed as he was often with one of the Premier League greats, Guardiola argued that Rooney’s England teammates were far more difficult to actually play.
Guardiola reveals why Crouch is harder to compete than Rooney
It somehow feels absolutely right that Guardiola has a special thanks to players like Peter Crouch. While many people often underestimate it, it can be said that Crouch was once fully eyed as the greatest manager of all time.
The Man City boss wrote a series of columns on the 2006 World Cup, revealing why Crouch is harder to face than the legendary Rooney.
“It’s beautiful to see Wayne Rooney being more definitive and beautiful. But Crouch is more conditional on you. You need to play in Crouch games and play in Crouch games.
“He knows what he does with his head and feet. One of the best virtues is his link-up play. He’s not just about crossing the box, he knows how to play.
Even before he became today’s manager, Crouch received the highest acclaim of his career, amid a slight insight into Guardiola’s mind.
Alas, he is certainly praised for his deserve. The former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker finished his time on the pitch with a total of 108 top flight goals, being one of the most technical tallest strikers the Premier League has seen, earning England’s 22 strikes with just 42 caps.
