Gullit: Pep Guardiola could not repeat what he did for Barca at Chelsea
Former Chelsea player/manager Ruud Gullit believes Pep Guardiola would struggle to emulate the success he had while at Barcelona, if he we’re to accept Roman Abramovich’s offer come the summer.
Chelsea have just hired Rafa Benitez, who has been given the manager’s job on a temporary basis, with a new manager expected to come in during the summer.
Pep Guardiola has long been admired by The Russian billionaire owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, and reports suggest the former Barcelona coach will be offered a huge £15M a year contract to take control of Chelsea, after the manager finishes his one-year sabbatical from football.
Gullit though isn’t sure Pep could complete the assignment set by Roman, saying: “I think what Pep Guardiola did with Barcelona is difficult to repeat, also because he had the players there. You cannot do the same thing twice, especially not in another culture.
“I remember with other cultures, they try because they think they have a formula, and it doesn’t apply everywhere. No, it doesn’t.”
Gullit believes Roman hiring Rafa has burnt bridges that are going to take time to rebuild, adding: “Abramovich has done a great job at Chelsea. Development, new training ground, trophies, he also brought them trophies. So for that reason you cannot blame him. But sometimes it’s a hard cookie to swallow in the way things happen. But it’s his club, he can do what he likes.
“I’m afraid for what the consequences can be. Publicly-wise. About Chelsea. Because I love Chelsea, I love the way the club has evolved, now you have to work hard to get your sympathy back.”
I completely agree that Roman has done us proud in the past, and that it will take time to get the fans back on side following the appointment of Rafa. Also we all know how different the Premier League is in contrast to La Liga, and Pep may find it very difficult to succeed here. I would much rather a return for Jose Mourinho, who is tried and tested in the Premier League, and might just be available come the summer…
Pep Guardiola would fail woefully and Abrahamovic would become frustrated. Wtach and see
I can’t see Pep Guardiola doing what the other Managers have failed to do……..Torres is an enigma, who knows what it will take to get him back to scoring. Rafa won’t succeed because you can’t inject the pace back into Torres game, he’s lost it and won’t get it back. The set up at Barc was ideal for Guardiola but Chelsea is different.