Pep Guardiola ‘couldn’t help but carry on’ talking football until 1:30AM after routine win, reveals Manchester City insider | OneFootball

A Manchester City insider has provided insight into the obsessive nature of Pep Guardiola on football, and the Catalan coach’s inability to switch off from the game.

The 52-year-old has arguably revolutionised the way football is consumed and perceived in English football since first arriving into the game as Manchester City manager in the summer of 2016.

Winning 16 trophies during his time in charge at the Etihad Stadium, featuring three Premier League titles in a row and a maiden UEFA Champions League success, Pep Guardiola has undoubtedly been one of the most successful coach in the history of the English game.

But that success has not come without hard work behind-the-scenes, and Pep Guardiola’s obsession with the beautiful game – an obsession that carries on for hours away from the public eye and the action on the field.

FourFourTwo video presenter and former Manchester City employee working in the club’s in-house media team, Adam Monk has offered a behind-the-scenes insight into Pep Guardiola’s character and the obsessive personality of the Catalan coach.

“During my time working for Manchester City, I was fortunate enough to meet Pep behind closed doors,” Monk explained to FourFourTwo. “The first time was in October 2020, at the team hotel in Marseille after a Champions League fixture.

“What struck me most – apart from being down to earth and making time to talk to me – was his intensity. We’d won 3-0, but he seemed unable to unwind and couldn’t help but carry on talking about football, until what ended up being 1.30am.

Monk continued, “That’s what sets him apart – if you live and breathe football the way he does, you’re far more likely to come up with ingenious treble-winning tactical innovations.”

The 2023 calendar year saw Pep Guardiola’s hard work and journey with Manchester City reach the ultimate high, as the club secured a Treble during the final games of the 2022/23 season accompanied by the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup trophies.

Guardiola himself has already played down the possibility of a repeat scenario in 2024, but will certainly not doubt his and his player’s abilities to achieve such high standards in the coming months as they continue to chase down a fourth successive Premier League title and a defence of their first major European crown under the Abu Dhabi ownership.