You'd think winning a league and cup double and reaching the semi-finals of the Champion's League, while smashing every domestic record in sight would constitute a successful season. Not for Bayern Munich manager, Pep Guardiola. The Catalan has implemented a new set of rules to mentally toughen his troops, after Director of Sport Matthias Sammer complained of the atmosphere at the Bavarian club of being like a 'cuddly oasis'.
Guardiola's new set of rules, or 'Guardiola's Punishment Catalogue', as the German press have dubbed it, include fines for (takes long breath):
Guardiola's Punishment Catalogue
Each Breach of Rules Results in a €250 Fine (To be Collected by Philipp Lahm)
- Arriving Late To Team Meetings
- Not Observing Dress Codes
- Not Putting Dirty Clothes in Laundry Bins
- Taking Phone Calls on the First Floor of Bayern's Sabener Strasse Training Complex
- Being Overweight
- Failure to Eat Within an Hour of a Training Session or Match Ending
The last point was brought to Pep's attention by Bayern's dietician Mona Nemmer, who informed the former Barcelona man that the players should be eating a pasta meal in the allotted hour, but are instead going home to eat with their families (the bastards!).
Guardiola was famous at Barcelona for his strict approach, where he would fine players for late arrival at training, before giving all the money gathered from the fines to children's hospitals. He did, however, treat his all conquering Catalans to a luxury meal, paid for out of his own pocket, whenever they won two consecutive Champion's League games or four straight La Liga matches. No word, as yet, as to whether this carrot and stick approach has been implemented or, if for now, Lahm, Muller, Schweinsteiger et al will be having to make do with just the stick.
As Thomas Muller learned recently, it's best not to make Pep angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry . . .
0 coment�rios:
Post a Comment