Pep Guardiola spoke on Italian television about his experiences at Brescia with Roberto Baggio and Carlo Mazzone, his Manchester City future and those England rumours. ‘I need to reflect.’
The coach still speaks fluent Italian after his time playing for Roma and Brescia, as well as the friends he made and continues to be in contact with in the Peninsula.
He also revealed that some of the language was learned by listening to Francesco De Gregori songs in his car.
That time in Brescia from 2001 to 2003 saw him be teammates with Baggio, who was with him on television show Che Tempo Che Fa.
Guardiola on past, future and Baggio reunion
“If I cry, then I apologise, but I get emotional when talking about Baggio,” said Guardiola.
“I got to know him at the end of his career when his knee was full of scars. He could barely move and still he was the best, I can only imagine what he was like during his best years.
“I think he earned the admiration of everyone all over the world, not just for his talent as a player, but for the rest too. There is nowhere in Italy that doesn’t love Baggio, it’s just impossible.”
Their coach was the legendary Carletto Mazzone, who was honoured by a special T-Shirt worn by Guardiola on the day that he died in August 2023.
The shirt depicted the iconic moment the coach ran along the touchline to celebrate a 3-3 equaliser against bitter rivals Atalanta.
“The first time I saw Mazzone, I was in the stands when he ran towards the Atalanta fans. He was a real old-school coach, all instinct. This is life, if I hadn’t gone to Brescia, I would not have known Mazzone.
“Places are beautiful, but what you really remember are the people you encounter.”
It was a curious career path for Guardiola in Serie A after decades of only knowing his beloved Barcelona.
“I was accustomed to winning league titles, but at Brescia it was a celebration every time we won a game. I don’t regret it at all, I got to know a situation I was not familiar with and it was one of the best periods of my life.
“I thought Roby Baggio was a very serious person, but really he was the life and soul of the locker room. It was a really strong team.”
There have been strong reports in recent weeks that Guardiola is preparing to walk away from Manchester City at the end of this season and even that he is being lined up as the next manager of England.
“It’s not true, in the sense that I have not decided anything and I still need to reflect. If I had already made a decision, I would’ve said so. Anything can happen.”
Does that include coming to Serie A as a coach after his experience as a player?
“If Baggio accompanies me as assistant manager, maybe yes!”
However, Guardiola seems unimpressed with the new format of the Champions League.
“I honestly haven’t understood it, I just coach the team and that’s all. I think we can only reply to that at the end of the season.”
Which team does he really not want to face in Europe?
“Good question. Probably Barcelona, because the affection I have for them really destroys me. I was born in a small village nearby.”
