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How Johan Cruyff's legacy lives on in Pep Guardiola

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Sky Sports' Pat Davison speaks with both Pep Guardiola and Jordi Cruyff about how Johan Cruyff's school of thought lives on

Sky Sports' Pat Davison speaks with both Pep Guardiola and Jordi Cruyff about how Johan Cruyff's school of thought lives on in the Manchester City manager today.

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Pep Guardiola: "In terms of football, he was my father. He was God for me. It was something unique."

Jordi Cruyff: "He was always attacking, dominating and keeping the ball, and I think that's his main legacy. My father maybe planted the seed, but the beautiful part of it is that the seed is still there."

In 1973 the best player in the world arrived to inspire Barcelona. Fifteen years later, Johan Cruyff returned to attempt the same as manager, but one teenager on the fringes of the first team squandered his first chance to impress.

23 Apr 1997:  A portrait of ex Ajax player Johan Cruyff watching the Champions League Semi-Final second leg between Juventus and Ajax at the Stadio Della A
Image: Cruyff won four La Liga titles and the European Cup at Barcelona in his time as manager

"He said to me, you played slower than my grandmother," remembers Guardiola. "I thought: 'OK I am not going to play in this team, in Barcelona.'"

Luckily for Guardiola, a revolution was underway. Barcelona now had a coach who valued technical quality above all else, and was beginning the work that would turn the club's academy into the envy of the footballing world. Pep was perfect for it.

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"My father always said that Pep had a sixth sense," Johan's son Jordi, manager at Maccabi Tel Aviv and a former Barcelona midfielder himself, told Sky Sports. "You don't need to be tall to be a good player, you need to be intelligent to be a good player. He put him up to the first team, and always believed in him.

"Guardiola was the first player to benefit from a manager who actually believed in football intelligence more than any physical aspect.

"After that, many players benefited. Xavi, Iniesta, the little guys in midfield, it was unheard of, and that's when the football for Barcelona really started."

Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester City at Bet365 Stadium on March 12, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England.
Image: Guardiola has won the Premier League in his second season at Manchester City

Almost three decades before Guardiola's tactics raised Premier League eyebrows, Cruyff was doing exactly the same in La Liga. Having learned the game under Rinus Michels at Ajax, as a player Cruyff had been a leading exponent of Total Football.

He brought those same principles to Barca, possession was king and players comfortable on the ball were scattered throughout the side.

Guardiola said: "I remember once Valencia came to the Camp Nou, they were top of the league, playing amazingly, and we decided to play three at the back, with Ronald Koeman and me in front. I said: 'This is crazy, they are going to kill us.'"

"We won 3-0, no chances for Valencia. Many, many times even if it didn't work, he gave us the reason as to why we took those decisions, and helped us to open our minds and say things that no other managers or trainers could say."

Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff playing for AFC Ajax, June 1971. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Image: Cruyff arrived at Barcelona from Ajax in 1973

Jordi adds: "Really if you look now at those line-ups, I can understand why a lot of people thought my father was crazy! It's just an impossible line-up, but in the end they won, and it created belief, created a way to play football players all over the place.

"Now you see Guardiola's style, everybody is comfortable on the ball, no matter if you're the goalkeeper, right-back, left-winger, everyone is comfortable in all positions. They will ask for the ball in the most risky position, and play with courage."

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As manager, Cruyff led Barca to four consecutive league titles, a first European Cup, and created what became known as the Dream Team.

He also gave his young protegee Guardiola the platform to emulate his success.

Did Cruyff have total faith in Guardiola? "Yes, from the beginning. I don't think I would have been Barcelona manager if he had not been cheeky and given the [makes sign of cross]… the Pope's benediction to say: 'Pep is ready.'"

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Jordi Cruyff sat down with Sky Sports to discuss his next move after Israel, and didn't rule out a return to either Barcelona or England

Jordi adds: "Guardiola was coach of Barcelona B for one year, and after that year my father said he is ready for the first division. And that's the Guardiola story.

"People are placing Guardiola's success so close to the figure of my father. I am proud of Guardiola and what he is doing."

"All credit to him, he has done it, but my father always had a blind faith in him. Always."

That faith has been more than justified. Guaridola's philosophy owes much to his footballing father.

"The influence of his vision is so huge," says Guardiola. "It is maybe 80 per cent of it."

Does he still think, in difficult moments, what would Johan do now?

"Definitely. Yes. He is always present, I have a big picture of him in my dressing room. Unfortunately he is not here to watch, but I am pretty sure he would be happy with the way we defend his legacy."

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