Pep Guardiola makes damning admission about Barcelona manager job

Pep Guardiola has admitted life as Barcelona manager is full of “little battles from within”, acknowledging former boss Xavi’s criticism of the club.

Xavi publicly pledged to walk away from the job last season, insisting the constant criticism had taken a toll on his mental wellbeing. He was eventually convinced to reverse his decision, only to be sacked shortly before the end of the season anyway.

New boss Hansi Flick is undoubtedly enjoying his start to life in Catalonia, but Guardiola warned the German that Barcelona have a way of making things unnecessarily difficult for their managers.

“It’s always been that way, and it always will be,” he told TV3. “We’ve all experienced it. Here, the shots come from all sides, every day. But the ones that hurt most come from within.

“Every day there are little battles within Barca. In the end, you realise the only thing that matters is convincing your players of your ideas and what you believe should be done. As for the rest, it’s best not to get involved for the sake of your own health.

“The danger of daily fatigue that comes from trying to manage Barca’s environment, the constant undermining of what you do… eventually takes its toll.”

Despite openly criticising life as Barcelona manager, Guardiola insisted the Blaugrana should remain true to their roots and retain what makes them unique.

“From my perspective, Barca should not change its model,” the City boss stressed. “From the outside, everyone sees Barca as something different. This club exudes charisma, a unique essence. What greater compliment could you receive?”