Guardiola’s Barcelona era: What really made it end?

Barcelona’s golden era; the days of Xavi, Messi, Iniesta and all the good stuff, it was the stuff of fairytales. It was a story that was too good to be true. But what really happened? What made it end?

The current Manchester City manager left his childhood club after four seasons of trophy-laden years of 179 victories in 247 games from 2008-2012, resigning abruptly for a year sabbatical in New York.

There’s no doubt that Barcelona was the reason Guardiola is what he is today; he created a history, a story that serves as a catalyst to what Manchester City are enjoying now.

But what led to its end? Well, according to former President Sandro Rosell, he revealed Guardiola left not because of board politics as claimed but shockingly because of the players.

“My four years at Barca are the best in the history of the club,” Rosell revealed.

“It’s not true,” the 58-year-old countered the board disagreement theory stating, “They’ve explained it actively and passively, Guardiola and the players. Pep left because of an argument with the players. A problem they had in the dressing room.”

Rosell speaking of his time as president, he recalls:

“In terms of titles, money, history made, socially, with the foundation, they are the best. There are stats. You can tell me ‘Rosell, I don’t like you, I can’t stand you’, but the objective data of my time in charge are published and audited on Barcelona’s official website. I’ve never defended myself, but the numbers are what they are.

“From 2010 to 2020, including the pandemic, these were the best years in the history of the club.”

So like all great teams, the Guardiola’s Barcelona era came falling down like any other, and it all had to do with the egos.

That said, Guardiola’s Barcelona brought the world something that was unfair for any opposition team it ever met.