Source: Telegraph
Manchester United v Barcelona: Pep Guardiola the heir to Jose Mourinho
Not even Jose Mourinho can claim to have pulled off a league, cup and Champions League treble. Guardiola, Barcelona's 38-year-old coach, has managed it in his first season in charge at the Nou Camp.
Just 12 months ago, the former Barca midfielder was coaching the club's B team until the departure of Frank Rijkaard led to his promotion to the top job.
Just imagine Sir Alex Ferguson calling time on his 23-year reign at Old Trafford and the United hierarchy handing his job to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, their own second-string manager. It is an unthinkable notion, but Barcelona president Joan Laporta took the plunge by appointing Guardiola and how he has been rewarded.
Guardiola has delivered Barca's 19th La Liga title, 25th Copa del Rey and their third European Cup in his debut season as head coach.
Mourinho wasted little time in crowning himself the 'Special One' when he departed FC Porto for Chelsea, having deposited the Champions League trophy in the Estadio do Dragao cabinet five years ago.
The Portuguese worked with Guardiola during his time in Bobby Robson's back-room team at the Nou Camp during the mid-1990s, but Mourinho's arrogance did not rub off on Robson's cultured defensive midfielder.
Humility, rather than hubris, appears to be Guardiola's defining characteristic.
He directed a nod towards Ferguson's longevity and success before the game and respectfully took heed of the 67-year-old's congratulatory words at the final whistle in the manner of a son who had just overcome his father for the first time and understood the pain of the older man.
Twenty-nine years separate Guardiola and Ferguson.
When the United manager set out in management with East Stirlingshire in 1974, Guardiola was a three-year-old yet to start school in his hometown of Santpedor.
By denying Ferguson his third European Cup, Guardiola might even have signalled a changing of the guard. Ferguson will be 68 when next year's final takes place in Madrid. Does he still have the time and desire to reshape a team capable of beating Guardiola's beautifully destructive Barca?
"This is just the start," Guardiola said. "We've had a fantastic season winning three trophies, but it's the way we did it that was so satisfying. Barcelona has three European Cups, so we are getting close to joining the big clubs in Europe."
With the prospect of retaining the European Cup in Real Madrid's Bernabeu next year, Barca have the motivation to defend their crown. But winning this one was all that mattered for Thierry Henry.
The 31-year-old said: "I've been waiting so long to get this title and finally today.
"The last five minutes were the longest of my life. No team has ever done this treble in Spain. It's my daughter's birthday today, so it's a double celebration."
The history man...
Josep 'Pep' Guardiola has won the first treble in Spanish football history in his inaugural season in charge of Barcelona, for whom he played as a defensive midfielder. At 38, he is also the youngest coach of a Champions League-winning team.
Honours as player: European Cup 1992; Cup Winners Cup 1997; La Liga 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999; Copa del Rey 1997, 1998; Int'nal caps: 47.
Honours as manager: Champions Lge 2009; La Liga 2009; Copa del Rey 2009.
