Guardiola: "After Man City, I want to stop and watch the cows go by," he told GQ magazine.

In the interview, Guardiola looked back on a challenging season at Man City, reflected on his coaching career, and shared his future direction.

Guardiola during the interview with GQ magazine, published on 29/7/2025. GQ

- Cristiano Ronaldo recently made headlines by claiming his biological age is 28.9. What is Pep Guardiola's biological age?

- Right now, I feel 75 (laughs). I'm exhausted, everything hurts. Biologically... maybe a test would show I'm younger. I hope to feel better soon.

- Do you think if new medical technologies had been available earlier, you could have extended your playing career?

- My career ended when my mind said enough. I could have continued, but my head said, 'I'm tired, I can't go on.' I think I stopped at the right time. The same thing happened with coaching at Barca. At some point, I said enough, and that was it. I went looking for new challenges. When you force things too much, it doesn't work. But it's a mental thing, not necessarily muscles, knees, or feet.

- As you said, it's mostly mental...

- No, it's everything.

- For an athlete, almost 90%...

- No, no, it's everything. For athletes and everyone. It's the least studied "muscle," perhaps because it's complex. But everything starts there.

- How many years of your life does a season with a club like Man City take?

- Quite a few. Especially if things aren't going well. When things are bad, the long nights are harder, daily life is heavier. Coaching, not just for me but for all my colleagues, is 24/7. If it's not, you can't succeed. The pressure is immense, and you need people to help you keep perspective. You have to strive for stability amidst the ups and downs and the intensity of it all. A friend once defined me perfectly: I have three states — excitement, depression, and absence. The key is maintaining balance.

- Coaching is time-consuming, but those who have worked with you say you're a workaholic, never stopping. Football is 24 hours a day for you...

- Well, I do stop... I've learned to stop a bit. But you have a responsibility to so many people who trust and love you: the players, the chairman, the sporting director... There's a fear of letting them down. I don't know if it's cultural or religious, or guilt. I'm not sure if the younger generation goes to church much now, but in my time, it was a big part of our upbringing. The guilt of doing wrong is ingrained in me. So, when I disappoint people, I feel guilty.

Success doesn't fall from the sky. Doing well isn't natural. You have to put in the hours. There's no other secret. There's a great saying that the "E" for effort comes before the "T" for talent in the dictionary. Right? Here, you either put in the time or you don't succeed. There's always work to be done. But over time, I've learned to create distance, and sometimes not working helps you work better later.

Guardiola during the interview with GQ magazine, published on 29/7/2025. GQ

- The past season wasn't easy for Man City. But consider this: almost the same squad, the same coach, the same methods, the same support staff, the same physiotherapists... One year you win everything, the next year nothing. How do you explain that?

- I don't think people should just look at last year, but the past seven years. When you win six Premier League titles, there comes a point when you decline. It's human nature. Maybe we should have changed more players, but that's easier said than done. It's a process you have to go through, it just came later and deeper than we thought. It wasn't disastrously bad, as we reached the FA Cup final and finished third in the league, not 12th. Looking back, maybe the season wasn't so bad. But we did have a few months without a win, about 13 or 14 games, which had never happened before. But it makes you realize where you stand.

Speaking for Man City, I think it was beneficial. Because success makes you delusional. We weren't delusional for many years, but last year, the players suffered too many injuries. You ask yourself: Why so many injuries now, when there weren't before? Because the focus wasn't on what it should be. When you lose focus, you're more prone to injuries. You think, 'I'll recover, I'll get through it...' But the opponents are waiting for you. Why? Because you've won too much. And winning upsets those who don't win, and they wait for you to slip. That's what happened. But I believe this will be good for the next five or ten years.

- Many people are also waiting for you to fail. Because you've never had a bad season before.

- Well, not really. Last season wasn't that bad. In the Premier League, when things really go south, you finish 12th or 13th... Oh, are they waiting for me? Yes, definitely. And I'm happy to see them (laughs). Really happy. It gives me energy. In this race, you need people who say, "Oh, really? Let's see!". They used to say, "In Germany, he won't make it, he only succeeded at Barca because he knew the place...". "In England, just wait and see, English football is different...". But no. I did it. Did it, did it again, and did it again. Oh, did I fail sometimes? It's normal.

Guardiola directs Man City's 2-1 win over Wolves at Molineux, Wolverhampton in matchday 8 of the Premier League on 20/10/2024. AP

Look, it's obvious in sports that you can't win every competition you enter. Why? Because it's impossible. Completely impossible. So, sometimes you lose, it's part of sports. Michael Jordan is the best. He won six championship rings in 15 years of playing. He lost more than he won. Tiger Woods is also exceptional. He won 15 major titles. But do you know how many tournaments he played? Over 100. He lost more than he won.

In sports, you lose more than you win. I've had 16 seasons and won 13 titles. So, yes, I've lost a few times. But things aren't that bad. And in sports, part of the process is understanding that the opponents are also good, they are also well prepared, they also have excellent players. Last season, if we had given up, honestly, we would have finished 12th in the Premier League. But we didn't give up. We played very badly, but we were still there, still fighting... And in the end, we finished third. In the Premier League, honestly, that's not a bad result.

- But you're the one who sets high standards...

- Exactly, exactly...

- For Pep Guardiola, third place is probably a failure. The next question is, what is failure to you?

- I'm happy to be called a failure. I love failures. In this society, everything has to be perfect, you have to post on Instagram the food you eat... "Oh, great, I'm so happy." Every day, we have to prove we're happy. Well, I'm sad, I'm a failure, I lose. So what? Show me someone who isn't. The important thing is to act, give your best, and do well. And on that point, I've never given up. I've had bad times, results worse than expected, but look, tomorrow is another chance, and I'll try again. Next year, I'll do better. That's the point.

There is no profession—architect, teacher, doctor, journalist—where 60,000 people shout for you to lose your job.

- People often say that failure is not trying or giving up. But what is failure to you?

- I never felt special when I won, and now, when I don't win, I don't feel like a failure. Do you want to judge me?

- No, I don't mean that... (laughs)

- No, I'm not saying you're sitting here to judge me (laughs). If someone wants to unload their frustrations on others to feel relieved that they've failed, that's their problem. It's the problem of those who want to project their life's disappointments onto me and feel happy when I fail. Fine, no problem with me. My job is public, and I have to accept that. Win or lose... what does it matter?

- But there are few professions in the world where people are happy to fail.

- Last season, for four or five months, every time we played away, I heard the fans shout, "You'll be sacked tomorrow morning." They wanted me fired. There is no profession—architect, teacher, doctor, journalist—where 60,000 people shout for you to lose your job. But in our profession, we are paid well, very well, to accept this. If you don't want it, do something else. I have a writer friend who always says, "I wish my books were criticized, torn apart like you guys when you lose, because that means many people are reading my books." There you go! How many painters wish their paintings were seen by millions like our work is?

You have to accept this judgment. When things aren't going well, people will comment. Why? Because it's emotional. It's pure adrenaline. When my team plays against our city rivals, I'll laugh at them if we win, or they'll laugh at me if my team loses. My frustrations are placed on 11 players running on the field in boots and shorts. It's pure energy. And you have to understand that you'll be criticized.

The day I retire, rest assured, no one will criticize me anymore because I'll be gone. If you want to do this and it's your passion, you'll enjoy it, but you have to accept the judgment. If not, choose another profession. But in any field, if you're lucky enough to be noticed, praised, and criticized like us, that's the great fortune of this profession.

Guardiola speaks with goalkeeper Ederson during Man City's match against Tottenham in the Premier League on 14/5/2024. AFP

- Having experienced a difficult season for the first time, although as you said, not a disaster, is your passion still intact?

- Yes, but it's different. Imagine if last season had been much worse than it was. So what? Next season, I'll start again! It's no big deal. Some people want me to fail... Fine. We finished third, a bad year, but show me a team that hasn't experienced that. Luckily, we're still in European competition next year, no problem.

My passion is different now than when I started. Back then, I had more insecurities, doubts, and fears. But I still love it. In football, there were times when I said enough, it's over. And as a coach, one day I'll say enough, I don't want to deal with players, opponents' tactics, press conferences every three days, or my boss anymore... I'll say: now I'm my own boss, no need for an alarm clock, I decide my own life. That day will come, and then I'll stop, or come back, or not, we'll see when we get there.

- Players, each of them bears the mark of their parents, and they are increasingly "multinational" in their own way. Working with them is probably the most complex job. It's almost the work of a psychologist, a father, a brother, right?

- Yes, but it's also very valuable. Truly valuable. You also have wonderful moments working with healthy people like football players. I was a player, and I love them dearly, they've given me so much. Although there were times when I clashed with some, I understand that people always have a human side, even if it's not always apparent in today's world.

We see what's happening in Ukraine or Palestine – the lack of humanity in all of us, when we do nothing in the face of tragedies just a few hours' flight away. We continue to play. In the past, during World War I and II, these things also happened, but there was no way to expose them. Now, we see everything on television, live, but there's not a single small action taken to resolve it. What was the original question? I've digressed a bit...

- About the players...

- Look, with the players, there's only one problem, I'll be blunt so everyone understands: I have 23 players, but I only pick 11 to play every three days. 23 or 22, whatever, but only 11. The others, my goodness, they feel like I don't love them. But it's the opposite, I love them even more because I feel for them. But the 11 not chosen will think, "Why not me, why someone else?". It's like it's always been, the feeling of being loved or not being loved. You know what I want? I want my loved ones to love me, very, very much. Then I'll be fine.

There's nothing better than doing an interview and being praised, "Wow, this article is fantastic!". That day you'll feel incredibly elated. But every three days, I have to tell at least 11 different players, "You're not good enough, I'm not picking you," or "You're good, but your teammate is better." That's why there's conflict, it's that simple. How to solve it? I wish there were only 11 players all season. But that's impossible, because they'll get injured. You can't play with seven, you need substitutes.

And we take very good care of them. The team's nutritionists are excellent. We have a player care department, taking care of them, their families, their children – from finding schools, gynecologists, pediatricians. If their car breaks down, we send someone to fix it. They have every amenity so they can just focus on training and playing well. But they just want to play, because they're very good, obviously, right? The 11 who don't play are also excellent players. But because of squad limitations, sometimes they don't get to play. They'll think, "I'm here, you pay me to play, but you're telling me I can't do what I desire most."

Tell me, how do you solve that? You tell them, "It's okay, you're training well, keep it up." They'll think, "Yeah, I'll get to play next game." But then they still don't play. Still don't play. How can there not be conflict? Impossible.

The closer it gets to match day, the more emotions like fear, joy, or disappointment connect me to the job.

- There's a feeling that emotional intelligence is less emphasized when working with players. What do you think about this?

- That's true, everything is now geared towards artificial intelligence. But emotional intelligence never goes away. Artificial intelligence can't replace the feeling when we look into each other's eyes, hug each other – those things are irreplaceable. Things may be faster, we analyze more, but what touches emotions can never be replaced.

Regarding your question, I didn't go to university to acquire tools to solve these problems. When I started coaching at 37, everything was based on intuition, feeling. Today you talk to this person like this, hug that one, but not the other – it's all instinct. Nowadays, there are many courses, trained professionals who can support you, help you coach better.

- There's also a lot of talk now about the mental health of football players, and elite athletes in general. As a former player, did you have any mental health issues, like anxiety or depression?

- When I first started, I did feel insecure. Time has given me calmness, but imagine: you go from training with 17-year-old boys to sitting in a press conference with 60 journalists, or playing in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators. Experience helps you manage it better. But today, I think young people have it harder because of the pressure from external opinions. We're being educated not from the inside out, but the other way around, from the outside in. Everything from the outside affects you much more easily. Those who are taught that other people's opinions aren't more important than their own thoughts will have much greater emotional stability and happiness.

Today, we think only other people's opinions matter. I dress the way I like, but if someone says I dress badly, I'll be affected. The day you're no longer affected by that, it will be much better. Because we keep trying to appear happy all the time. That's a big mistake. I often tell people: it's okay to be sad, it's okay to be disappointed, it will pass. Like happiness, it will also pass. We lose a game, we're sad, and that's normal. We have to learn to live with those emotions.

Now, everyone wants to be happy all the time, always feel okay. But young people today, they really struggle. My children too, they suffer a lot. In our time, things were simpler, there weren't so many choices. Growing up in my village, I remember just playing in the square, with scooters, bikes, or playing football. I only went home for lunch and dinner, otherwise no one saw me. Now it's different. Kids don't leave the house anymore. Smartphones appeared, and everyone is glued to them. I don't blame them, because if I were born in this era, I'd probably be the same. For famous people like us, this pressure multiplies, leading to insecurity, a bad mood. If you're not strong enough, you need support from psychologists, not to downplay the problem, but to see it differently. Football players are always exposed to pressure.

Coach Guardiola consoles midfielder Matheus Nunes after Man City's 2-1 loss to Man Utd at Etihad Stadium in matchday 16 of the Premier League on 15/12/2024. AP

- Speaking of young players under pressure when starting out, we're witnessing the explosion of Lamine Yamal, who is often compared to Lionel Messi. You coached Messi and now, looking at Yamal from the outside, do you think this comparison is fair?

- I think Lamine Yamal should be allowed to develop his career freely. After 15 years of playing, we'll know how good he is. Don't rush to compare. Being compared to Messi is already a huge compliment, like comparing a painter to Van Gogh – it's a sign that he's excellent. But let him write his own story. Then we'll see.

- But looking at the way he plays, his style, do you think...

- He's quite good, isn't he?

- Yes, isn't he?

- Messi is a legend. 90 goals a season, for 15 years, non-stop, no injuries. That's another level. Let Yamal develop.

- Do you want to return to Barca one day, or is that chapter closed?

- It's closed. Closed forever. It was a beautiful chapter, but it's over.

- Or become club president, for example...

- No, no! I'm not suited for that role.

- Your inspirational speeches are famous, some even recorded. But how do you motivate yourself?

- The fear of failure, of making mistakes, of losing connection with what I'm doing – those things quickly get me back on track. The closer it gets to match day, the more emotions like fear, joy, or disappointment connect me to the job. Humans have unlimited potential, like a non-stop machine. If you put in the effort, you'll be rewarded. That's how I do it. Of course, sometimes there's a price to pay.

- After all these years, what was the most difficult moment in football for you?

- The most difficult? If it's just about winning or losing, that's an oversimplification. There are always defeats, disappointments. At the end of my career, people might say I won 39 or 40 titles, which is great. But what remains are the relationships with the people you work with, the players, the coaching staff... That's what matters. There are happy moments, but also bad times. I make decisions, others don't understand, and sometimes I make mistakes. Those are the most difficult times, not just because of winning or losing.

- You mentioned "as long as the mind can handle it." When some coaches work almost to the end of their lives, how long do you see yourself coaching?

- I don't know. I really don't know. But I don't think I'll do it that long... I'm not sure. Maybe there are good teams that can support you in some things. But I know for sure that after my time with Man City, I'll stop. This decision is final. How long I'll stop for, I don't know – one year, two years, three years, or even ten years. After this period, I need to stop to focus on myself, my body, and... as the Catalans say, "badar" – to leisurely watch things go by. I wish I could do that, stop and watch the cows as the train passes. My grandfather used to say, "You look at me like a cow watching a train go by." I want to stop and observe life. Then life will show me the way. I never thought I'd coach in Germany, in England, or become Barca's coach. We think we control everything, but we don't. Something will surely come up, and I'll ask myself, "Do I want to do this?" If not, I'll find my way. My plan after Man City is to stop, and then we'll see.

Hoang Thong (via Revista GQ)