Speaking to more than 20 players before, during and after every game provides many opportunities to get his message across but brings with it the challenge of keeping his subjects engaged.
Especially when you factor in that this was Guardiola’s seventh campaign at City with many of the players several years into their careers at the Etihad Stadium.
More on Together: Treble Winners
In order to get the best out of his squad, Guardiola has to carefully select the perfect moment to inspire, lambast or share a joke with the international stars in front of him.
That’s before you consider his famous tactical philosophies that must be conveyed as succinctly as possible too.
Much of the work is done ahead of match day, with those crucial moments in the stadium reserved for the final instructions and motivation.
Given that we became only the second side ever to win the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in a season and have now claimed 16 major honours since he arrived in 2016, Guardiola is clearly a master in squad management.
In the new Netflix series by City Studios, Together: Treble Winners, we see many of the Catalan’s contributions in the dressing room.
Here we look at some of the team talks that caught the eye as we progressed through 11 gruelling months…
City 4-0 Bournemouth, 13 August 2022, Premier League
City began the 2022/23 Premier League season at West Ham before returning to the Etihad a week later for this one.
That date came less than three months after one of the most dramatic days in Premier League history – when Ilkay Gundogan and Rodrigo led the comeback against Aston Villa to seal the title.
In order to get his players pumped for playing in front of our home fans again, Guardiola reminded his squad exactly what happened that fateful day.
Stepping out of the way, he watches with the group as a specially made video is played.
Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan both appear in the episode, describing the impact that moment had on them – with Gundogan even stating it was the first time he had watched that game back!
City 2-1 Borussia Dortmund, 14 September 2022, Champions League
City had come from behind to beat German side Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad thanks to a hit from John Stones and an acrobatic Erling Haaland finish.
The mood was relaxed in the dressing room, with the players discussing the game before the manager joined them.
However, once he arrived it was clear Guardiola was not impressed with the performance in its entirety.
After praising the goals, he called on the players to demand more of themselves.
“I shouldn’t have to push you guys, it’s the Champions League,” he said.
“You are too good. It’s unacceptable the way you performed today.”
He ends by reminding the players he is pleased with the win and leading a round of applause, but the message was clear that he wouldn’t stand for that level of application in future.
Even after winning a tough encounter, Guardiola makes sure his players don’t allow them to let their standards slip.
City 6-3 Manchester United, 2 October 2022, Premier League
There’s not a lot that needs to be said before a Manchester derby. With the Etihad bouncing even ahead of kick-off, there’s no doubt the players would be up for the occasion.
Having already delivered his technical demands earlier in the week, the final moments before the game here were kept extremely simple.
With his left arm around fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura, Guardiola taps at his thigh with his right arm and tell his players to look at each other before effectively asking them to make a promise to each other.
“Let’s go? Yes or no?”
That’s all that’s needed to ensure each player has signed a pact with their team-mates that they’d give their all.
City 2-1 Fulham, 5 November 2022, Premier League
On the face of it, a 2-1 home win against a mid-table side is the kind of routine victory that you need to stack high if you’re to win a title.
However, this game was very, very different. Down to 10 men in the driving rain with the scores at 1-1, a 95th minute Erling Haaland penalty earned the three points.
The outpouring of relief at the final whistle was palpable for everyone in the Etihad, with the players and staff effectively doing a lap of honour.
More on Together: Treble Winners
Back in the dressing room, Pep is visibly emotional. The boss starts with his hands on his knees, contemplating what he should say.
“I love you so much,” he starts.
“It’s not for the victory itself, it’s how we played. 70 minutes, ten against 11. It might be one of the happiest days I have here, this is the reason we are here for the emotion.”
Southampton 2-0 City, 11 January 2023, Carabao Cup
Without doubt the most frustrated we see the boss at any stage across the six episodes, his three minute monologue in the away dressing room at St Mary’s is likely to go down as one of the most iconic moments in the series.
After watching his side crash out of the Carabao Cup, the Catalan begins by asking his players to explain their performance.
He then insists in no uncertain terms that his players have let the travelling fans down before questioning their hunger and demanding more in the coming games, including the Manchester derby.
It’s a thrilling insight into an elite sports dressing room and is perhaps the clearest indication of Pep’s unbelievable drive to win.
Guardiola is regarded as one of the most innovative managers the game has ever seen, but to win the trophies he has, his philosophies must be matched by a relentlessness that maintains standards above all else.
As he wraps up, he exits the room and leaves the entire squad in silence.
City 4-2 Spurs, 19 January 2023, Premier League
It’s half-time and City are 2-0 down against Spurs.
Having lost against Manchester United and Southampton in our last two outings, Guardiola can sense something isn’t quite working.
However, one player has impressed him. Teenage full-back Rico Lewis was in the middle of a strong run in the side and had caught the eye with his tenacity and courage on the ball.
Across football it has famously been difficult for new players, especially Academy graduates, to be seen as equals by their international colleagues.
By singling out Lewis here, Guardiola ensures the Manchester-born defender not only has the respect of his team-mates but is also an example for them to follow.
The boss also points out that when Lewis was fouled repeatedly, City players were not there to back him up.
“There is something inside that you need to find. All of you guys, no exception,” he said.
“Where is your passion? Now you have proved you don’t want to win the Premier League.
“18 years old, he has more passion and energy to do it. He was fouled and nobody defends him.
“He wants all the ball, he is aggressive without the ball. I give presents. Do you think I give presents?”
City 3-1 Aston Villa, 12 February 2023, Premier League
Ahead of kick-off, Guardiola has his players gathered arm-in-arm in a circle.
He begins by instructing them that, from now on, they will huddle on the pitch in the last few seconds before kick-off and one player will talk.
It’s a subtle change to the pre-match routine but one that gives the boss the excuse to call for his players to fight for the Club.
Speaking with a clenched fist, he says: “I want my warriors.
“You are going to support me unconditionally. We are going to fight for this Premier League, my friends. Attack everyone and defend everyone.
“I love the club and I love you too.”
City 4-1 Arsenal, 26 April 2023
While not strictly a title decider, our trip to Arsenal in late April was always going to be a special encounter.
We went into the game knowing victory would leave us two points behind Mikel Arteta’s side with two games in hand.
Guardiola knew it was going to be a battle, and focused on reminding his players they have to be prepared to give as good as they get.
As always, Guardiola has already delivered his tactical instructions ahead of matchday but without the required resilience, he knows we will not earn the right to play football the way we want to.
“If you don’t finish the game with problems on your ankles from the kicks, on your knees, it’s because we did not compete,” he says.
“Today it’s as simple as that, you have to enjoy being kicked. You have to enjoy having pain.”
City 4-0 Real Madrid, 17 May 2023
After a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital, it was all to play for against the most successful side in the Champions League’s history.
With our own scarring from the heartbreaking defeat against Real in the previous campaign, there was a significant mental hurdle too.
The message beforehand was simple and it worked as we put in perhaps our greatest ever European performance to seal our place in the Champions League final.
After gathering all of the staff into the dressing room to celebrate together, he leads a chorus of chanting and clapping before waxing lyrical about all of his side’s achievements.
“Tell me how nice the Champions League final sounds,” he starts.
“On Sunday we have to close another Premier League. Three years in a row. Two finals of the Champions League. You are the best team in the world by far guys!”
City 2-1 Manchester United, 3 June 2023
Having sealed the Premier League title, attention turned to the FA Cup. The boss was keen to avoid any discussion of a potential Treble, with two finals in our way.
The first of those was the first ever Manchester derby in a major final. Well aware that the occasion would leverage enough emotion and motivation from his side, Guardiola instead arrowed on in how we beat Erik ten Hag’s side.
With the score 1-1 at half-time, he pleads with his players not to lose control and instead focus on playing our own game.
He then turns to his board that is always waiting in the middle of the room before detailing exactly how we can build up through United’s midfield in the second half.
Judging when players need fresh tactical insight and in how much detail at the mid-point of a huge clash is a skill that only comes from years of experience at this level.
City 1-0 Inter, 10 June 2023, Champions League final
Learning through experience is just as vital a skill for coaches as it is for players.
During the 2021 Champions League final, Guardiola concedes he was too aggressive and harsh on his players.
In the interim, he has reflected that players do not want to perform poorly in a final, but may need extra information in order to play how the coach envisages.
At half-time in Istanbul, City were struggling to break down a dogged Inter.
The boss again focuses on the way we can build up through midfield, use our attacking midfielders and leave space for Rodrigo – the man who scored the winning goal.
It’s a rare insight into a true footballing visionary. A coach who can not only see how he players can beat the best of the best, but communicate it to others.
The plan works perfectly and players and coaches tearfully embrace as we are crowned Champions of Europe.
Player team talks
It’s also crucial that Pep selects the right moments to hear a fresh voice.
With five captains in the squad selected by their team-mates, Guardiola is well aware of which players’ thoughts are most respected by their peers.
Captain Ilkay Gundogan is the sole voice we hear from before the early season battle at Newcastle United, while it’s Rodrigo who takes centre stage at Leeds United just after the end of the World Cup and then Ruben Dias ahead of the win at Bournemouth.
The pair’s personalities shine through at those moments, with Gundogan speaking carefully and clearly maintaining the focus of every single one of those around him.
Having suffered a defeat in our last Premier League outing before the World Cup, Rodrigo is fired up, calling on his team-mates to rise to the challenge set by Arsenal and pundits up and down the country.
More on Together: Treble Winners
Ruben Dias steps up after a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest to remind the squad of our incredible form late in recent seasons.
Perhaps the most illuminating team talk from a player was when Kyle Walker was asked to speak before the Champions League final.
Walker had not been selected in the starting XI in Istanbul, but that didn’t stop him from delivering a speech that couldn’t fail to fire you up before such an occasion.
It’s at that moment you see exactly why the England international commands the respect he does from his fellow professionals.
Whether it’s one of Pep’s intense speeches or a player stepping up, Together: Treble Winners is filled with team talks that will live long in the memory.
