Pep Guardiola is exerting more and more control over Manchester City’s culture and players in the hope to bend them to his winning will.
First he came for junk food. Then went the internet. Now, it’s colored boots. According to Sky Sports, Manchester City’s youth players are permitted only to wear black boots in the aim to “create a culture of discipline in the academy set-up.”
In defense of the decision, recently promoted head of youth coaching Jason Wilcox argued the boys must be disciplined in how they represent the club.
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He said:
"There is nothing worse for me than to see a high-profile footballer who has no manners or respect for other people.Yes, you do have to be single-minded, but you can still be respectful to others.It doesn’t matter whether a boy is speaking to one of the cleaning ladies or the CEO, we demand that they show respect.We want people to represent Manchester City the right way – not just in a sky-blue shirt, but when they are away from the club as well."
Those are Wilcox’s words, but the spirit of Pep Guardiola clearly resonates within them. Not permitting something as trivial and benign as flashy cleats reeks of Guardiola’s rabid attention to detail. His injunction for the senior squad members concerning eating with the same teammates each day to prevent cliques is a similar sort of policy designed to shape character.
Sergio Aguero revealed more information about Guardiola’s mindset. The striker said his manager is “picky about everything.” And then Aguero elaborated, “It’s good. The good thing is that I’m getting used to him and automatically going straight in to pressing the centre-backs.
“He wants me right as a nine, but then he gives me more freedom too.
“He asks me to move all around the attack.”
Guardiola’s informed the press he wants more from his star forward in support of possession.
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What does Aguero want in return from his coach? Access to the internet again. Marca reports the Argentine as “frustrated” with being unplugged from the world when on-site.
“Down in the dressing room and massage area there is absolutely no connection.” he said. “I don’t know who he [Guardiola] caught playing with his phone in the washbasin or while receiving a massage and he proceeded to cut off the internet.”
So the Wi-Fi ban allegedly is a punitive measure for City’s players, as an even clearer picture of what life is like playing for Guardiola is revealed one juicy increment at a time.