Wednesday’s Champions League clash between Manchester City and Barcelona should be a clash between two clubs, but it isn’t.
At least not in the eyes of the Spanish press.
No, in their eyes, it’s more personal: it’s Pep Guardiola against Barcelona.
And AS on Tuesday explains that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Regardless of everything the Manchester City manager achieved as a player or from the bench for the Catalan club, none of that will matter on Wednesday night.
They say that every time Guardiola comes to town, it isn’t a party, it’s a ‘psychodrama’.
That’s the Barcelona way: “either you’re with us or you’re against us”, and the Spaniard certainly isn’t with them as things stand.
It’s a huge case of a love-hate relationship. It makes everyone angry and confused when returns.
The Nou Camp contingent weren’t especially fussed when Ferran Soriano or Txiki Begiristain returned home as City men, but they are now it’s Guardiola’s turn.
There’s no middle ground when it comes to Guardiola. There’s no logic in it either, that’s just how it is.
Whether that transpires to the team, that remains to be seen, but it didn’t during his time in charge of Bayern Munich.
Will it be different when Manchester City come to town? There’s only way to find out.
