Pep Guardiola’s Demanding Style: Insights from Lewandowski and Ederson
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of football’s greatest tacticians, having managed an elite roster of players during his illustrious career at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and now Manchester City. Over 898 competitive matches, Guardiola has worked with 192 players, including icons like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, and David Silva.
Now, two players who have worked closely with Guardiola—Robert Lewandowski and Ederson—have shared candid insights into what it’s like to play under the Catalan coach.
Robert Lewandowski Reflects on “Tough” Start with Guardiola
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, Robert Lewandowski, who played under Guardiola at Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2016, admitted that their relationship had its challenges early on.
“The beginning was tough because Pep, at that time, was very focused only on the football things,” Lewandowski explained.
“As a human, he was difficult for the players because he knows that he’s so brilliant with the tactics that the players should follow him, and if the players follow him they’re going to win.”
The Polish striker noted that Guardiola gradually evolved in his approach:
“I saw that later he’s starting to change, like personality… to be more human, to be more open for the players. That can help him more than something tactically.”
Lewandowski highlighted the difference between routine games and high-stakes clashes, such as Champions League semi-finals or finals.
“If you’re playing against a team that doesn’t have a big chance against us, of course, tactics can help a lot. But at this level, I think different things can make [the difference between whether] you win or not.”
During their time together, Lewandowski scored 67 goals in 100 appearances under Guardiola, helping Bayern win three consecutive Bundesliga titles.
Ederson: Guardiola Can Be “Annoying” But Fair
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson offered a different perspective, describing Guardiola as a mix of personalities depending on the situation. When asked if Guardiola is more “nice, annoying, or angry,” Ederson said:
“He’s a nice guy, he’s sometimes annoying, in the sense of [being] demanding, because he has to [be] demanding to a professional [player], and he’s also angry when he has to be angry.”
Ederson emphasized the balance Guardiola strikes:
“He’s a nice guy off the pitch, and he’s a very, very demanding guy on it. And he’s also a guy who gets angry like any other person, like any other coach, when things don’t go well.”
Guardiola’s Evolution as a Manager
Guardiola’s initial approach at Bayern, his second managerial role after his record-breaking tenure at Barcelona, was heavily focused on implementing his tactical philosophy in a new league and country. Over time, however, he has shown an ability to adapt by prioritizing stronger relationships with his players.
This ability to evolve, combined with his unrelenting demand for excellence, is a key reason why Guardiola remains at the top of world football, managing some of the game’s biggest names and pushing them to achieve their full potential.
