Pep Guardiola has now added a third European Cup/Champions League to his long list of personal successes, one as a player and two as team manager.
Pep Guardiola has played a leading role in three of Barça’s four European Cup/Champions
League successes. He was part of the team that won the Club’s first at Wembley in 1992 and
has now claimed the trophy twice as team manager, in Rome and the new Wembley.
Guardiola makes it three
The 21-year-old Pep Guardiola was a vital component of the Dream Team midfield that broke
Barça’s European Cup jinx against Sampdoria in 1992. He was the third member of the team to
hold up the trophy and made a long remembered speech on the team’s return to Barcelona.
Glory in Roma
Guardiola’s
initial season in charge of the first team was a truly memorable one, as the Barça completed an
historic treble. First came the Spanish Cup, then the league title and lastly the Champions League
in Rome. Despite missing a number of important players in defence, he inspired his players with
– among other things – a specially prepared video that they watched just moments before
he led them out onto the pitch. His men responded marvellously and beat Manchester United 2-0.
Back to Wembley
Barca’s fourth success in the European Cup/Champions League, and the third in
Guardiola’s personal tally, couldn’t have come in a more suitable and symbolic place.
After clinching the Spanish league title, Barça have returned to the city where it all started in
1992, to lift the trophy once against Manchester United. On Sunday, we’ll have the CL Trophy
back here once again in Barcelona.