Everton v Man City: Ronald Koeman and Pep Guardiola's relationship in their own words
Sunday 15 January 2017 11:06, UK
With Ronald Koeman and Pep Guardiola set to go head-to-head on Sky Sports this Sunday, we look back at how their relationship has developed since their days at Barcelona, their similar styles, and how they plan to tackle their current on-field problems.
Koeman and Guardiola started out as team-mates and room-mates at Barcelona during the early 1990's, winning trophies together and developing an appreciation for a similar playing style under Johan Cruyff.
More than 25 years later and they are trying to instil some of their own values in their players at Everton and Manchester City.
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However, both have issues to tackle ahead of their Sky Live meeting this weekend. We examine their relationship in their own words - and their verdicts on their current situations as managers of Everton and Manchester City...
First meeting at Barcelona
Koeman on Guardiola: "I was the older player and of course there was a reason Johan Cruyff put us together in a room. We played close to each other in the positions in the team and Cruyff mentioned he should learn a lot from Ronald Koeman. I didn't show him how to make a cup of tea but after one training session when he was involved in the first team you saw his qualities."
Guardiola on Koeman: "When Ronald needed water, he'd wake up to water from me. I was younger so I looked up to him. He was not just a room-mate, we spent a lot of time together and he was so generous. Not just on the pitch but off it too - I learned a lot from looking at him."
Developing styles
Koeman on Guardiola: "He was young but he had his opinion. Outside the pitch he was quiet but on the pitch he was involved in football and tactics. He was really very clever about football.
"He was eager to learn, he wanted to know everything. Pep wanted to know about the Dutch school of football.
"More than any other player he wanted to know about one-touch football, about positional play, one touch in small spaces. He loved the way Cruyff wanted to play with Barcelona."
Guardiola on Cruyff: "He was the most influential person in football history. He changed not one club. He changed two clubs - as a player and a coach. It's impossible to find another guy like this."
From mentor to mentored
Koeman on Guardiola: "He doesn't pick my brains now. When we have dinner together we speak about nice stories from our time together at Barcelona. The dynamic is different. Now he is maybe the best manager.
"I used to give the advice, but when I was coach of Feyenoord I sent Giovanni van Bronckhorst to watch three days of Bayern Munich's training sessions when Pep was there. I have stolen some of the exercises. Of course, you like to learn and I can learn from other managers."
Similar styles
Koeman: "We like to dominate, we like to have the ball, and it is also about the qualities of your players. But Pep likes to always try and build up even when it is difficult. I am a little bit different than that. I prefer to play the long ball [in those situations]."
Guardiola: "I am not a coach for the tackles so I don't train the tackles. What I want is to try and play good and score goals and arrive more [in the box]. I want to play the football I feel because of course that is simple like that [to think you should] concede few goals and to try to score more."
Managing expectations
Koeman: "I know what is needed to change. If everybody opened his eyes maybe we will get further in our improvement - because that is what this team needs.
"I hope everybody realises what the team needs to get results that are the expectation of this football club."
Guardiola: "If people think: 'Pep's here; City will win.' No. That's not something you can switch on or off. You need many, many other things to change and we are in the process of doing that.
"It's crazy to think I will transform everything. I came to learn. I deserve to be happy as well, and I am so happy when I feel emotion about the way my team plays."
Future plans
Koeman: "We know it's a big project, we know we have older players in the team...one summer is not enough to get the type of players to play in the favourite system we want."
Guardiola: "Give me time...Sir Alex Ferguson didn't win the title for 11 years. Liverpool haven't won it for 25 years...we have to improve what I believe, not change what I believe.
"When it doesn't work, you have to be strong. I have to accept the opinions of former players, the media, the fans because we didn't win - but I wish and hope they will give me a little more time."
Staying close
Koeman: "We have a really strong friendship. Now it's a bit easier because he's living in Manchester and I live close to Manchester, so sometimes we have time for dinner and to talk about football and life. We have spent many hours together, talking football."
Watch Everton v Man City live on Sunday on Sky Sports 1 HD from 11.30am.
