Amidst an incredibly uninteresting and dull January transfer window that recently just slammed shut on the 1st of February, perhaps the only ounce of excitement was the formal revelation of what ironically was arguably the worst kept classified piece of information in the world of football.
Spanish Serial Winner and an Emeritus Professor of the “Tiki Taka” Philosophy, Josep “Pep” Guardiola, was joining the Heavy-spending, Ferociously-
ambitious and HRH. Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan-bankrolled Manchester City team as Manager from The 30th of June this year where he’d reportedly earn a mind-blowing, whooping 377k Euros every week! I kid you not. A matrimony which is expected to have jaw-dropping bank alerts and football successes as wedding vows exchanged by both parties at the Alter which is the signing of the deal.
That was and is the news. So how does this affect the football world as a whole? Let’s find out shall we? As a neutral football fan with keen interest in The English Premier League, it’s a particularly exciting and mouth-watering prospect. The flair which the league has always lacked, (replaced with intensity and little creativity) may as well be introduced with the arrival of Pep. Also, it is hard to resist the temptation of salivating at the prospect of having Pep come up against Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp, whoever Chelsea and Man United’s 2016/2017 managers turn out to be. Another angle to this headline-hugging piece of news is the thought of some of the best players on the planet getting shipped in to England at the behest of Pep Guardiola. Summer transfer window is one to watch sincerely!
Now from the other end of Manchester, the reaction ranges from Paranoia to actual deep and devastating fear. Memories of the nail-biting football tutorial that Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona FC freely dished out to Man United on two separate Champions League Finals (Rome 2009 and Wembley 2011) remain very fresh in the minds of United’s fans. Would never forget the camera capturing a moment in the 2011 edition which got The Great Sir Alex Ferguson shivering almost uncontrollably as Barcelona made Man United players look like toddlers who just saw a football pitch for the first time. The players ran their hearts out like Cocker Spaniels chasing cluelessly after soap bubbles. Now that same guy, the architect of Man United’s double-header torture ceremonies is set to become the Manager of their bitter rivals! Life surely can’t get worse now can it?
Oh it does gets worse. Man United is managed by Louis Van Gaal! (Take a moment to let that sink in. Then appreciate its comedy value). The struggling Dutchman whose team play so boring a football style, who can hardly string 3-4 wins in a row and who has hardly had the blessings of the fans now has to come up against Pep Guardiola next season (If he isn’t fired before that). Not just an ordinary Pep Guardiola but one heavily backed by the infinitely deep-pocketed Sheikh Mansour. For any Man United fan, it’s the time to get into a room, lock himself/herself up, get a bucket and then empty his/her tear glands. Chills travelling down the spine of an average United fan.
This is why it is easy to understand the club’s fans’ yearning for the sack of Louis Van Gaal followed subsequently like a Real Madrid counter-attack by the appointment of Jose Mourinho. Now Jose never has been a fan favorite as far as Man United is concerned. His divisive, egoistic and sometimes belligerent personality has never been associated with Old Trafford but reality has twisted the plot. 3 Seasons after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson and not a single proper trophy to balance the scale with the close to 300million Euros investment in player and Manager acquisition certainly throws the usual slow and steady team building tradition in a trash can. Man United want and more importantly NEED a serial winner who also happens to be a sore loser In Jose. For all his faults, this Portuguese loves a Knife fight (many at times, one without actual rules), he loves sticking it to the opposition. He loves pissing them off then beating them. A very ruthless fellow but a winner anyway. Love him or hate him, his record of success in various European Clubs stands as an intimidating defense Attorney. In my own opinion, Jose is the only (maybe not) solution to the imminent dumping of Man United in what Late President Ronald Reagan once called “…the ash heap of history”. The same place Liverpool FC have found themselves in and haven’t crawled back from just yet.
But this is just one man’s (Boy, if you will) opinion. As for I, the Talisman, anticipating the 2016/2017 football season is a new hobby, can’t wait to watch Pep infuse some beauty and flair to English football. I hope you join me in that venture whatever club you support!
Oh, and here’s a little something from The Former Great Elder of Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson An excerpt from His book, “Leading” on the succession process; it is conclusive proof Pep was at the very top of the consideration list for the Man United job and a confirmation of The Spaniard’s genius.
“I asked Pep to phone me before he accepted an offer from another club but he didn’t and wound up joining Bayern Munich in July 2013”- Sir Alex Ferguson, “Leading”
Bye!
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