Break Time for Pep: A Former Ally Urges Guardiola to Pause and Recharge
9 October 2025
Context and Recommendation
One of Pep Guardiola's closest associates, the legendary Spanish coach, advised him to leave Manchester City and take a long rest from coaching before starting any new venture.
The remarks came from Carles Blanchart, a former performance analyst who worked with Guardiola for nearly 18 years at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, before stepping away at the end of last season.
"As a friend, I think any coaching project should not exceed five or six years," Blanchart told the Spanish newspaper Sport. "Then you should refresh and recharge your energy."
Blanchart elaborated: Guardiola needs to breathe again, step back from daily pressure, and regain his creative energy. He has given almost everything with City, and now might need a pause to renew his passion.
Since 2007, Blanchart has stood beside Pep through Barcelona's academy to the first team, helping secure three major titles in 2009, then moving to Bayern Munich in 2013 and to Manchester City in 2016, where the collaboration lasted until last season.
Blanchart praised the humane environment at City, where the staff were treated like family and could work freely, a warmth he says wasn't always present at Barcelona or Bayern.
He emphasized Guardiola's obsession with football: a genius who creates his own style, and the hardest part is innovation, not imitation.
Those close to him say Guardiola exhausts himself mentally and physically over the minute details of every game and training session, which explains why a long break could be on the horizon when his current contract runs to 2027.
Guardiola has hinted several times about stepping away temporarily after leaving City, joking about a 15-year vacation to illustrate mental fatigue.
Some observers compare this to Jürgen Klopp's tenure at Liverpool, with both coaches guiding teams to the summit for years before signs of burnout appeared.
Despite City's historic success, last season saw a dip, finishing third, a position below the standards associated with the era under Guardiola.
During the campaign, questions about his mental state arose, especially after moments of him rubbing his head in frustration after matches.
Blanchart noted that energy can wane; in a period of poor results, it becomes hard to rebound. Football demands peak mental and physical energy at all times.
He added that injuries and aging players contributed to a difficult spell; simply reaching the Champions League was a notable achievement under trying circumstances.
Blanchart described his dual role at City: analyzing both his own team and the opponents, two distinct but equally vital tasks.
With a schedule of three games every week, there is little time to fix errors through training, so they relied on video presentations to convey ideas quickly.
In a rare full week of practice, they could plan corrections, but more often time is short, so images and clips helped convey concepts efficiently.
Humor aside, Blanchart asserts that taking time off could renew Pep’s drive and keep his edge sharp for whatever challenge awaits next.
Punchline 1: If Pep ever discovers a calendar with free days, it’s either a miracle or a tactical formation.
Punchline 2: Breaks aren’t retirement; they’re pre-season for the brain, sponsored by coffee and creativity.
