Even soul mates separate. This time it happened in Catalonia, where one of the most successful football marriages of the last decades ended: starting next season, Pep Guardiola will no longer be the coach of Barcelona. The news had been in the air for days, but only today – before training – did the coach announce his intention not to renew the contract to the players.
After a few hours, the official announcement arrived. In a press conference convened ad hoc, the president of the Blaugrana club, Sandro Rosell, confirmed his farewell: “Pep Guardiola will no longer be the coach of Barcelona. There will be eternal gratitude for him." In short, after four years and 13 titles added to the bulletin board, it's really over. The designated successor is Tito Villanova, to date Guardiola's deputy.
Shiny eyes and a voice broken by emotion, the coach personally commented on the decision: “It's not an easy feeling for me. This is and will always be my home. You can imagine how I feel. I was here first as a player and then as a coach – he explains -. Four seasons at Barcelona are an eternity. Already in October, and then in December, I had expressed to the club my intention to leave. I knew my adventure here was coming to an end. I feel privileged to have led this club and delivered the results that everyone knows about. I am leaving a club at the highest level and with great vitality. But now I've reached the end, I'm tired. I don't know what else to add, thank you all".
After coaching Barcelona's B formation, Guardiola was promoted to lead the first team in the summer of 2008. Among the many successes brought home, three Spanish titles and two Champions Leagues stand out. A cycle that according to many ended with the last two (unexpected) missteps of the Blaugrana champions, who said goodbye to the dream of winning the fourth consecutive Liga and the third Champions League final in four years.
First came the 2-1 defeat with arch-rivals Real Madrid, then the incredible 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Perhaps the stress accumulated over the four years was just too much and Guardiola would have decided to say goodbye even in the event of success. Certainly, few in Barcelona would have imagined seeing him go away defeated.
