Man City revived thanks to Pep's workaholism

If you try to Google the keyword "workaholic" (a term for a workaholic) in the field of sports, a series of results will lead to the name Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola helps Man City students like Doku to continuously improve - Photo: REUTERS

Indeed, the football world has described Pep Guardiola with many different titles - from "philosopher", "tiki-taka master", "strategist" or the Chinese novel-like name "Zhuge Liang". But from a scientific perspective, "workaholic" is the most accurate way to describe Pep.

Nearly a year ago, the football world witnessed some truly terrible moments in Pep Guardiola's life. That was when his Man City team was in a complete crisis on the pitch. And off the pitch, his family was also in turmoil.

His wife Cristina Serra and Guardiola agreed to separate after more than 30 years together, although neither of them had an affair or wanted to start a new life. Serra broke up with Pep because of irreconcilable conflicts in the context of modern life. It happened when Pep was too passionate about work and did not spend enough time with his family.

"Pep's family is broken because of his workaholicism" - Daily Mail commented as a "vindication" for both Guardiola and Serra. Almost no one is at fault in this. Serra wanted to have a normal home like everyone else in his native Spain. But Pep kept devoting himself to his passion for football in the harsh foggy land. As a football fan, you cannot blame Pep, because that "workaholic" spirit brings refreshing moments to Premier League fans.

More than anyone else, Man City fans should be grateful to Pep for accepting to sacrifice many important things in life. But he never gave up at the Etihad Stadium. Last season, the football world predicted that Pep might resign after Man City fell into a state of decline and faced a series of legal accusations off the field. But also at the end of 2024, he signed a new contract with the end point in the summer of 2027.

Anyone who has followed football long enough will understand that Pep is not Mourinho. Once Guardiola has signed a contract extension, he has also built a full work plan until that time. Maybe for some reason, Pep will leave before the contract expires. But the context is never a dismissal notice, or an escape, or a noisy demand for contract compensation... As a typical "workaholic", nothing is more important to Pep than work.

Because of his workaholic spirit, people see Pep still jumping around like a young man on the sidelines during every tense moment of the match. People see Pep dragging Salah (who is an opponent) into the tunnel and talking non-stop after the match. And they see him working non-stop at Etihad. Although in fact, in terms of his career, Pep has been fulfilled for a long time.

"I really want to see him work for another 1,000 games," coach Jurgen Klopp - Pep Guardiola's arch-rival - shared in a video clip produced by the Premier League, to honor the Spanish strategist when he reached the milestone of 1,000 games as a coach last weekend.

1,000 matches - equivalent to 20 years of career - is truly a number that makes most of the football world stunned. But with a "workaholic" Pep Guardiola, he can completely continue his conquest.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/man-city-hoi-sinh-nho-chung-nghien-viec-cua-pep-20251111095428476.htm