Barcelona has had a long lineup of celebrated managers, from Pep Guardiola to Luis Enrique, Quique Setien, Ernesto Valverde, Ronald Koeman, and now Xavi Hernandez. Each has faced the unique challenges that come with leading one of football’s most demanding clubs, where expectations are sky-high and relentless.
Recent comments by Xavi and Enrique have shed light on just how emotionally taxing the Barcelona job can be. Both managers have acknowledged the intense mental toll it takes to meet the club’s famously high standards.
Speaking to Cat Radio, Pep Guardiola—a Barcelona legend and current Manchester City manager—didn’t mince words when describing just how tough the role is. “The toughest job, by a long shot,” he stated, emphasizing the particular challenges that come from within the club itself. “In other places, you get hit by opponents, but in Barcelona, the most painful hits are those that come from within the club itself,” he added.
Reflecting on the culture at the club, Guardiola explained that the immense pressures and high expectations have always been deeply rooted in Barcelona’s identity. “It has always been like this and it will always be like this,” he noted. “Trying to change that would be a big mistake. We have to live with this dynamic because it is part of the club’s identity that makes it unique.”
Guardiola, who led Barcelona to historic success, discussed how even small missteps are magnified at such a prestigious club. He recalled a time when, despite winning league and domestic cup titles, falling short in the Champions League was viewed as a failure by some. “It’s a great club. We were winning the league and the cup for many years, and the club was considered a failure because we were out of the Champions League semi-finals,” he shared.
When asked how he managed to cope with the pressure, Guardiola offered advice on navigating the intense environment at Barcelona. “In Barcelona, there are a number of wars, and you have to choose, which war will I fight? You will be wrong if you fight a useless war, a big mistake,” he explained.
Guardiola’s strategy was clear: “There is only one war you have to get involved in—convincing the players every day that you will win Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, and so on. The rest you don’t get involved in.”
These insights from Guardiola offer a rare glimpse into what it truly means to be a manager at Barcelona, a club where success and scrutiny go hand in hand, and where the only battle worth fighting is on the pitch.
