Pep Guardiola’s candid advice to Steve Bruce after his sacking

Bruce was earlier this week let go by the Toon following their takeover and gave a candid interview of the baggage that comes with management. The 60-year-old, who had been in management for 23 years and managed his 100th game before his dismissal, added how the criticisms affected not only himself but his family.

Guardiola joined his former assistant Mikel Arteta and others in wishing Bruce well at a press conference on Friday.

He said: “Steve Bruce is an exceptional gentleman. He always took care of me and I wish him all the best.

“I’ll tell him don’t pay much attention to the comments because it is bull****. Steve Bruce and all the other managers want to try to do the best, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, he does not have to worry.”

Guardiola knows all too well of the pressure of management and the scrutiny that comes with it.

The 50-year-old managed his beloved Barcelona, winning a treble in his first season before going on to lift 14 major honours in a four-year spell.

He later went on to manage Bayern Munich, the biggest club in Germany, where he won the league title for the three years he was there, as well as two domestic doubles.

Asked whether the media pressure in England is tougher than where he has managed before, Pep replied with a blunt “No,” before elaborating.

“In England it is nicer, whereas in Spain there are more radios, televisions. I would say maybe I’m wrong, everywhere it is similar. It’s not all the media, you are treated in terms of results.

“When you win they say ‘what a genius’, when you lose ‘what a disaster’. Especially with social media, in Spain they are more involved, there are journalists at training sessions, it’s the same but more intense.

“But the fact is the same, everyone comes here, when you lose a game the people underestimate, if you want to be a manager accept it.”

Over the years, Guardiola has worked with a number of different coaching set-ups at the three clubs he has managed.

His success in multiple countries has earned him the reputation as one of the world’s best, with many in the media praising him for being a tactical innovator and changing the culture of football.

Despite the plaudits he has earned, he does not take sole responsibility for his success and instead praises those who work around him.

He said: “I’m treated good because we win sometimes, I’m treated badly because we lose. I love it, I love it. I pay no single attention. I know as a manager the success is because we have done it, not I have done it.

“From the CEO, our incredible workers, the staff and backroom staff the success is because we have done it. Because we are in front of the media every three days, the influence is much much smaller.

“It’s difficult to understand football is collective, never have I thought I have won a game,” Pep added.

“I win the games because my mates help me, and I try to do my best to win the game.”

The Spainard was speaking ahead of the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow and was questioned on how City responded to league games after playing in the Champions League.

In their last four matches after a game in Europe, they have failed to win a match, which could be a statistic that plays into the mind of him and the players.

With the Brugge game being last Tuesday, there has been plenty of time for recovery, as well as training for the next match.

In response to the statistic, he said: "Listen, if you want to get involved in the statistics over the last four years you will lose.

"I pay no attention, how is the team that is the concern, not about the mentality, the strategy, the opponent we’re going to play is different to Brugge, Chelsea, Liverpool. We will go there and have a good game."

Asked whether revenge will be on the mind following a 3-2 defeat back in May, he swiftly responded with: “Absolutely not, in football you win and lose.”

“Listen if you want to get involved in the statistics over the last four years you will lose. I pay no attention, how the team that is the concern, not about the mentality, the strategy, or the opponent we’re going to play is different to Brugge, Chelsea, Liverpool. We hope to go there and have a good game.”