Samir Nasri, a former midfielder of Manchester City, has disclosed Pep Guardiola’s somewhat unusual management methods and shared his experience under the Spaniard.
Nasri revealed that the City boss established strict standards, not only limited to what occurred during training.
Despite making 176 appearances for the reigning champions during his six-year spell in Manchester, he spent only a brief period under Guardiola’s tutelage.
Guardiola has a reputation for being quite disciplinary, and Nasri’s revelation about a rule that he has stood by throughout his entire management career might surprise some.
According to the former midfielder, who is now 35 years old, Guardiola implemented a post-midnight sex ban, which resulted in Lionel Messi’s muscle record being impeccable.
Regardless of whether one agrees with the nature of some of Guardiola’s rules or not, there is no denying that he has been at the top of his game for almost 15 years, and he is superb at his job.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal midfielder was interviewed by French newspaperL’Equipeand revealed all.
Most unusually, Nasri revealed the advice that Guardiola would give to players, especially his golden boyMessi, regarding their sex life.
“On a day off, Guardiola told us that anyone who wanted to have sexual relations should do so before midnight because they need to have a good night’s sleep,”Nasri said.
“He says he did it with [Lionel] Messi and since then he hasn’t had a muscle injury.”
In response to his rules becoming viral, Guardiola came out to admit: “It’s impossible to play good football if you don’t have sex with your partner. I would never forbid that. If you’re doing it, you play better.”
It was reportedly one of the first rules he instilled upon his 2016 arrival to the Etihad Stadium and affected all players, even those who were off the next day.
Before Guardiola’s arrival, the Frenchman managed to contribute to two Premier League titles and a League Cup. This all changed, however, as he then went on a season-long loan at Sevilla.
On his permanent departure, he revealed some insight into his regime at City.
“Guardiola is arrogant, but in the good sense of the word,” Nasri added.
“Pep knows that he is the best coach, and he makes it clear to you. So, for him, it is quite easy to impose his law. Afterwards he is a frank and honest person.”
The pair did not see eye to eye on initially, with Nasri seemingly on his way out upon the Spaniard’s arrival.
Nasri also claimed that his manager forced him to train by himself until the former reached the ideal weight he had in mind for his midfield playmaker.
“Little by little I managed to make him change his mind. He got angry with me many times,” the Frenchman admitted.
“He told me that I was a waste of a player, that I shouldn’t be playing there but at Barcelona. He wanted me to stay and play there. But I told him that he couldn’t guarantee me a start and I needed to play. He told me that he thought I was wrong, but that in any case I would have two years left on my contract.”