Pep Guardiola wants no distractions whatsoever ahead of his Bundesliga debut this season. The Spanish manager tried to motivate his current players by referring to one of his former pupils: none other than Lionel Messi.
According to reports coming from Germany, the former Barcelona boss spoke with his squad prior to the match against Hamburger SV. During Pep's talk, Guardiola asked his players to remain focused throughout the game, since he believes only the Argentinean striker is allowed to break formation in the world.
"This year everybody will run as I want them to. I say how things are going to be, and you listen. There is only one player in the world who doesn't have to, and that is Messi,"Guardiola allegedly told his players.
Messi and Guardiola, during their years together at Barcelona's training grounds.
The Spanish boss' methods have been harshly criticized during his three years coaching Bayern, and his heated arguments against some of his players, such as Mario Mandzukic and Thomas Müller, have been publicized heavily. With his future with Die Roten still to be decided, Guardiola will try to lead the Bavarians to a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, something no club in the German top flight history has achieved.
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