I got offers from two different clubs at the same time.

It was the 2017/18 season when we scored 100 points from Manchester City, setting a Premier League record. One sentence was from Spanish Examples, the other from the Persian Gulf.

But for various reasons, I rejected both. Thought the time wasnt right yet.

At that time, Josep Guardiola and I were preparing to go on a pre-season tour in the USA. A few days before departure, he called me to inform that Patrick Vieira is close to leaving New York City.. He moved to Nice, so New York was looking for a new coach.

" - You will like the city. It's perfect for life. Think "

I appreciated the previous offers and was proud that they wanted me. But this time it was New York. A very tempting offer.

I was thinking. Started watching some matches to assess their level in MLS. Noted that they have technically gifted players to suit my style of play. Positional attacks, overpasses, domination with the ball.

A few days later we started talking about it again. " Surprisingly, it only took me three days. They were all from Barcelona, \u200b\u200bsome worked with Guardiola.

I made progress in making a decision, but I needed the last step. The hardest part.

It's not that I was afraid of losing my privileged and comfortable position to work next to a specialist like Guardiola.. It was a professional and personal question, because working alongside Pep is invaluable in any sense..

After much thought, I came to a conclusion that allowed me to see everything clearly.. He didn't need me anymore. In fact, he never needed me. I just helped him do his job.

So I left in peace, glad that I have his friendship and knowledge. I knew we would always stay in touch with Guardiola.

I never talked about it - I probably didn't even tell him. But during the first conversation with Pep, I was shocked. He was one of my idols.

I always admired his game, because I am a fan of Barcelona and a member of the club. In 1992 I was at Wembley as a fan and saw our club - finally - win the Champions Cup for the first time in history. Even then, I was in love with Guardiola's game, because he was a student of Johan Cruyff. I became a coach myself because of Johan.

We collided in one of the corridors of Ciudad Deportiva, the base of Barcelona. It happened in the summer of 2007 when Pep was just hosting Barcelona B. I myself worked at the club for only a few months - as a scout I followed 17-20 year old players from other clubs.

" - We play in Tercera, and I thought that since you know this tournament, you can help us "

Of course I was pleased. Last season I took Girona to this division. But I told Pep that he must talk to the management for this to happen..

" I'll put in a word and we'll figure something out. There will be no problems "

Now I had two tasks. From Monday to Friday, I worked with Guardiola, analyzing the closest opponent, their players and everything else he might need.. Then on Friday, after the conversation with the team and the video session ended, I packed my things and traveled around Spain, tracking different players.. Sometimes I went to France - especially to the area around Toulouse. She was close to Girona, so sometimes I went to the matches of the French youth teams.

Barcelona B had a bad start that season. Conditions in Tercere were different - especially the fields. They were smaller and had different coatings, which affected the movement of the ball.

But Pep is a smart guy, he quickly adapted. And Tito Vilanova helped him too.

Tito just started working at the club after working with Terrassa in Segunda B. He knew many footballers because it was his job.. Thanks to hard work, the team delivered an amazing part of the season. She promoted in class showing Pep the style of football. Young players such as Pedro, Sergio Busquets and Victor Vasquez shone there..

Then came the busy summer of 2008. A vote of no confidence in the president was announced at the club and then elections were held. There were rumors that Jose Mourinho will lead Barcelona. But in the end, Joan Laporta remained president, and Pep became the coach..

A few days later, he asked to meet at the stadium. Said he would be waiting for me in the dressing room. But I didn't know where it was, because I've never been there. So I had to call Guardiola to show me.

In the end, we met when the guard escorted me. I didn't even know what Pep wanted to talk about.

I opened the door and saw Laporte, Chiki Begiristain and Pep there. Laporta, who was very open and friendly, asked: \?

I answered frankly: " I am happy to be here and will agree to any of your suggestions "

So I started working with the first team, analyzing the same things as in Tercera. Pep took all his staff.

As in Barca B, we had a tough start. In the first two rounds, we scored only one point, losing to Numancia and drawing with Racing from Santander.

While both teams have to be given credit, the result did not reflect what was happening on the pitch.. The team played really well, created a lot of chances, but they lacked a little luck in the decisive episodes.

Cruyff, who had a very high regard for Pep, tried to help him in his column for a local newspaper. He said not to worry about the result. "

Of course, it was great and it helped, but in personal conversations, Pep admitted that the match against Sporting in Gijon worries him very much. "

We were under tremendous pressure. But the players believed that everything would change for the better.. I even remember how they talked to him, trying to cheer. Pep and the team were one.

And then it happened. We came to Gijon and beat them 6: 1. Since then, things have only gotten better and better until we have achieved something outstanding.. Sextet.

Six trophies in one season: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Club World Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup.

Of course, there were many magical moments in this season, but for me one was absolutely key.. Match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. They were in great shape, winning 17 of their 18 previous league matches. If they had defeated us, they would have gotten a point away. We all knew what Real was like in these situations. We acted great, achieved good results, but this match could be a turning point.

I was one of the analysts, along with Carles Planchart. And I was always in charge of the games with Real Madrid. Before leaving for Madrid, we stayed for a long time in the office - until 10 am or something like that.

I spent a week watching their matches and then preparing a presentation analyzing their defensive and offensive systems, behavior at set points, movement of lines. That day, Pep came to my office and said: " I want to see them play "

Then he announced that he wanted to ask Lionel Messi to play in the center of the attack..

I couldn't believe it. The most important game in Guardiola's career at the time, at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid - and he was going to put the main scorer, Samuel Eto'o, on the left - and Messi, for the first time in his career, to send in the center of attack.

" And Pep will simply be destroyed " But he believed it would work. He took my laptop with him and went off to talk to Leo.

\? How did everything go? "

" He liked this idea. He will play in the center " We all know what happened next. The score 6: 2 in that historic match helped our victories in the final part of the season.

I've always said that Guardiola is brave. This is controlled courage, because he sees everything clearly. And, oddly enough, this is the coach who is most relaxed at crucial moments..

After winning the Championship and the Spanish Cup, we ended the season by beating Manchester United in the Champions League final in Rome. That was Alex Ferguson's best team in many years: Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Paul Schoes. Well, the compiler!

We had a lot of injuries, and some players were not playing in their position or were not in their best shape. Yaya Toure played in central defense alongside 22-year-old Gerard Pique. Before them acted 20-year-old Busquets. Silvigno, who barely played in the playoffs, came out on the left in defense, Carles Puyol was right back. Above him played Andres Iniesta with an injured leg, and Thierry Henry was just returning from an injury.

But we had the best footballer in the world - Messi. Our spirit could not be broken. We were confident of victory, Pep is the most. The harder it got, the more he concentrated..

It was amazing. Like all our time in Barcelona. It was a pity when it was all over, because I believed that that team could achieve even more. But Pep felt differently.

After relegation from Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals in 2012, he gathered his closest aides and said that this is the end of his period in Barcelona. We asked him to change his mind, but when Pep made a decision, it is impossible to change it. And he has already decided everything.

I had two years left on the contract, but out of respect for him I was ready to leave the club. After all, thanks to Pep, I ended up in this role and I felt that I could not continue to work without him..

We talked to him and my family about it and they made me change my mind. I continued to work when Tito Vilanova became coach. But deep down, I still felt that I had betrayed Guardiola. I was uncomfortable.

Later, Pep, who at that time lived in New York, announced that he would be in Barcelona for some time and offered to meet at his home.. At this meeting, he said that he was going to resume his coaching career and wanted me to work with him..

I gladly accepted his offer, thinking that I would be his analyst again. We continued to talk and after a while he said that I would become his assistant. Imagine what I felt when I heard it!

"

\? "

" We go to Germany. Bayern Munich"

We hosted a team that had just won the treble with Jupp Heynckes, winning the German Championship and the German Cup, as well as the Champions League. You might think that it is difficult to coach footballers who have achieved so much, but from the very first day it was the opposite..

They had an incredible mood for work and it was great.. Of course, Pep changed some things, but they were prone to these changes..

Of course, my position changed after I changed the role of one of the analysts to the position of assistant coach.. There are many types of assistants, but I believe that the best one is the one that helps the head coach, being calmer than him.. Stay in the background, always be aware of everything that happens.

I helped with offensive and defensive strategies at set points. And we also talked a lot about tactics before each game..

" What do you think? "

I shared my opinion. All final decisions were with Pep. But I believe, as an assistant coach, you have to share your opinion whether you think something is appropriate or not..

I also kept in close contact with the players. Sometimes there are times when someone does not fully understand the idea.. Then I conveyed this to such a football player so that everything worked out.

In the end, it's all about small details.. You must protect the head coach so that he does not get bogged down in the daily routine.

We settled down well in Munich - both in the club and in the city. But Pep decided to change teams every three seasons.. This decision, as always, was carefully considered..

We knew we would end up in the Premier League, but didn't know which club. He preferred to keep this part with him to the last..

He could have hosted any club in England, but I think there were several factors that made him choose Manchester City.. One of them is that he knew the leaders of the "

It was a different type of project. The team won the Premier League with both Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, but the foundations needed to be laid for a long-term winning mentality..

The kind that is in Bavaria and Barcelona. He allows you to be sure that you will win no matter what happens..

This is what is being built in Manchester City. They want wins to be the norm for the team.

We had a great start. Ten wins in a row. But projects take time to reach their goals..

We reached the Champions League, but could not win the title. Chiki and Ferran still believed in the project, as did club president Khaldun Al-Mubarak.. Three key people.

We signed several players with the profile we needed before the second season. The club couldn't afford to change 12 players, but we got a few more suited to Pep's style of play.

Since the second part of the first season, the team played really well - but in the second campaign, the performances were just amazing. We set the rhythm that brought us victory in the championship - although the situation was unusual.

We beat Tottenham on Saturday. Second Manchester United was due to play West Brom on Sunday. If they hadn't won, we would have become champions.

I was walking around Manchester when I got the message: " We are champions!

Of course it was a very happy moment.. But the real euphoria came after the final fight, when we snatched a victory over Southampton at the last minute thanks to the year of Gabriel Jesus. This allowed us to score 100 points - the first in England.

It was the best ending to the season you could think of.. Championship with a hundred points. But more importantly, the team felt Guardiola's ideas on how to play..

As he says, it's not about blind copying.. If you want an idea to bear fruit, you must first feel it.. This is what I tried to do in NYC.

After 12 years at Guardiola's headquarters, I became head coach again. It was an interesting journey, from Tercera to MLS. But all the work you do is added up wherever you are.

It was a very positive experience.. We won the Conference for the first time in club history. But it wasn't just about the results - the press also talked about our style of play..

The fans were happy, the footballers were happy too. I could stay for another five years, because this is a great city to live and grow in it as a professional. But there were things that I disagreed with.

When you know that you cannot change these things, the best thing you can do is change direction.. It's better for both sides.

Now I am expecting a new project.

I'm not in a hurry, I'm open to interesting offers that will be interesting from a sports point of view.

A place where football players can really get into this idea. How it was all the time working with Pep and in New York City.

When this happens, trust me - there is no better feeling.

Shortly after the interview, Domenech Torrent became the head coach of the Brazilian champion and owner of the Copa Libertadores Flamengo.

Domenech Torrent, The Coaches Voice.