Pep Guardiola has revealed that the key to Manchester City's success lies in the influence of water polo champion Manel Estiarte, who serves as his trusted consultant and chief sounding board. Estiarte, 56, is officially the director of first team support and protocol at City, but his role extends far beyond that, providing Guardiola with invaluable insights from his own elite sporting career.
Estiarte, who won Olympic gold in 1996 and silver in 1992, was voted the world's best water polo player seven years running from 1986 to 1992. Guardiola described him as "more than a friend," praising his ability to understand the dynamics of the locker room. "He has the feeling and the sense of what can happen in this environment," Guardiola said. "For me, his opinions are so valuable because he understands so many things I am not able to read or see myself."
The pair have been friends since 1992, when Guardiola was a Barcelona player and Estiarte was a fan. They have worked together since 2008, when Guardiola invited him to join his backroom staff at Barcelona. Estiarte explained his role: "People ask me what a person who played water polo can give football – I try to help Pep because on a day-to-day basis I can see he’s alone. It’s the burden he has to carry and I try to help him in any way I can as well as the team."
Guardiola also credited his mentor Johan Cruyff for his coaching philosophy, keeping a miniature bronze statue of the Dutch master on his desk. "Johan Cruyff was a magnificent person – he’s the reason I’m here now. Everything I believe in comes from him," Guardiola said. City set 11 Premier League records last season, including a 100-point haul, and Guardiola attributes that to Cruyff's influence.
City began their Premier League title defence with a win at Arsenal and host Huddersfield tomorrow, but will be without Kevin De Bruyne, who is out for three months with a knee injury. The documentary 'All Or Nothing: Manchester City' on Amazon Prime offers a behind-the-scenes look at Estiarte's role and Guardiola's methods.
