This is a translation from part of Pep's first press conference as Barcelona manager. The club would do well to consult these words again (and again). "I believe we are in a time when the most important thing is to win. All playing styles are good if they are accompanied by winning. I intend to convince the players, and all of the people in the club, of the style that I feel. I can't win without transmitting the style that I feel. I feel what I feel, and I know this is the path that can bring us victory. That is one of being protagonists. You attack better if you defend better, and you defend better if you attack well. Everyone partipates. I don't understand football where some only serve to defend and others only to attack. This will not be in our team, you will see. The attackers have a defensive responsibility, and the defenders have an attacking responsibility. Step by step, we know that we don't have time. We know from this point, we must start catching these concepts and put our batteries in. We can't promote titles, but we will persist and will intend it. Fasten your seat belts. Follow me. Follow me."- Pep Guardiola
One little interesting fact. This is what we recently went through... April 2014 0-1 v Granada 0-1 v Atletico Madrid The last time Barca had gone two consecutive matches without scoring a goal? August 2008 0-1 v Widzew Lodz, Champions League playoff second leg 0-1 v Numancia, La Liga Round 1 (Pep's first match in La Liga)
I wish he hadn't grown weary. I remember reading (I think on TotalBarca) an article he had written in response to critical raves about a particularly good performance by Barca during the Rijkaard era (the fall 2004 Clasico? not sure), in which he described how he saw the non-negotiable Barcelona philosophy. It was thrilling to read. Those kinds of days seem long gone now.
Depends on who the club brings in next. Someone who's grown up, played and (at the very least) knows the club from the inside-out will incorporate and stick to the "non-negotiable" plan. Bring in an outsider and, indeed, we likely won't see "those kinds of days". (Then again, if Rijkaard could do it...) Btw, is sounds to me like the "non-negotiable Barcelona philosophy" = NO PLAN 'B'.
I don't think I agree. I think philosophy, strategy (of multiple topics), and tactics are all three different things; and it's possible to have a Plan B for strategies and for tactics within a philosophy that does not change.
I just found the piece from Guardiola that I referred to. It was from after a March 2007 CdR win against Zaragoza.
I think I recall that game. Barca lost the first leg at home 0-1 and Rijkaard came out with a 3-4-3 in the away leg. Everyone on this forum LOVED Rijkaard's approach that day. Barca won 2-0 to advance, iirc.