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Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has stepped down after 2 losses in a row, and only 3 this season in 57 matches. That doesn't happen very often in coaching. http://www.socceramerica.com/article/46497/guardiola-bids-adeu-after-unprecedented-run.html |
| NativeSon |
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Actually no. Pep had told Barca management in Dec I believe that he was going to quit after the season but he never told the players. It is worth noting that he had been renewing his contract annually because he didn't want to tie himself and complicate his exit. He was great though and Barca will miss him. |
| Fact Checker |
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Think soccer America badly need to fire who ever wrote this article This was there 3rd loss in a row (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Chelsea) and was there 5th loss this season (3 in League and 2 in CL) This was also the first time in 9 years where Barcelona have failed to win in three consecutive games Good manager no doubt but its easy to look good when you have possibly the greatest team ever assembled |
| Walt George |
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The greatest team ever assembled couldn’t beat a 10 man Chelsea. No plan B when it was obvious Plan A wasn’t working. Football never ceases to amaze me - did you see the hash the $200,000 a week Real players made of simply taking a penalty? My local amateur Sunday League team recently had a penalty shoot-out and they could have given lessons to those Senors |
| it was building |
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This is not a shocker at all. Pep seemed to really consider stepping down after last season but clearly felt he could give it another year. I imagine he would be stepping down regardless of the outcomes this year, but the losses probably cemented his decision that he needs a break. The continual pressure for those guys, players and managers alike, is absolutely insane and it's been taking a toll on Barca this year. |
| 52.43 |
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That was the comeback of the century by Chelsea 2-0 goals down, 10 man.... AND THEN....-Lampard - Ramires - GOOOOOOAL ^^ I feel sorry for Ramires, he brought Chelsea to the final and cannot play it. |
| check your facts |
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since when is a 2-2 draw a loss? |
| Lydiard is God |
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since when is a 2-2 draw a loss?[/quote] It is when it means you lose a 2-leg semi-final and don't get into the Champions League final to defend your title. |
| Barakus'Obama |
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Barcelona should hire Marcelo Bielsa as coach. Tito Vilanova is too inexperienced. And Alexis Sanchez is an average forward. Not better than Eto'o or Ibrahimovic. Imagine Barcelona with Sergio Aguero, Rooney or even Neymar instead of Sanchez. |
| London bound |
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Pep is off to manage England |
| crazy person |
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He quit because the job is super high pressure and it was stressing him out and he wanted to spend more time with his family and other things with his life. He probably would have quit even if they won the domestic league and the Champions League. It's tough being a renaissance man these days. |
| spokanexc |
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there is no break in top flight soccer, with league games and league cups and the european championships. 2 months off, while you have to manage the transfer window. it is easy to see how this got to be too stressful for pep... with the amount of time he invests in micromanaging that team and with the amount of flack he gets in the spanish papers for finishing 2nd in la liga and losing in the champions league semi-finals. they made the semis or won europe for 4 straight years, and won 3 straight la liga titles. that is a lot of high pressure games with no break. and by all accounts pep works 24/7 managing the club--i guess you have to to maintain the style they play... but it would have to be extremely draining to do it for that long at that high a level and then get blasted in the press for finishing 3rd/4th in europe. also... and this hasnt been brought up as much... but the spanish teams are in massive debt as is spain. i wouldnt be surprised if the top players in spain start moving to england to take advantage of the pound. maybe pep sees this too, and with financial fair play coming in, maybe he sees some writing on the wall that barca may have peaked. |