"Pep wouldn't have a problem going to dinner with Mourinho"
Pep Guardiola's assistant coach at Manchester City, Domenec Torrent, talks about the renewed rivalry with José Mourinho and how they'll try to adjust ideas in English football
In an interview with Catalan newspaper Punt Avui, Domenec Torrent – assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City – gave his thoughts on the tantalising prospect of Guardiola’s renewed rivalry with José Mourinho in the Premier League next season.
“Apart from that famous press conference [before the two sides’ Champions League semifinal in 2011], if there was something between them, it was kept between José and Pep. Manchester is a small place and I’m sure that they’ll see each other in restaurants. One day Mourinho can pay, the other day Pep. I don’t think Pep is worried about anything.”
"Pep's not going to England to lecture anybody"
Torrent also spoke about Guardiola’s coaching style, both in Germany and what can be expected in England. “I’ve said it many times: people sell the idea that Pep tried to changed German football and that he’ll try to change English football. It’s simply not like that. We went to Germany and we realised immediately that we had to learn the counterattacking style and that football there was much more physical. We then had to combine that with the idea of possession football.”
“Bayern won the triple with a style that went from one extreme to the other. Pep controlled how they played a bit more. He adjusted ideas about football in Germany and in the Premier League we’ll try to do the same. There are many different ways to play the game and each of them can be successful. Pep’s not going there to lecture anybody.”