The last Spanish coach called Pep who came here didn’t think much of English football, either. Pepe Mel lasted 123 days and won three matches in 17, before West Brom sacked him on May 12, 2014.
‘I cannot betray the essence of what I consider football to be,’ he sniffed.
‘The English have a certain style and culture that is not necessarily the idea we have in Spain.’ With head held high, and feet held higher, he departed these shores.
Of course, Pep Guardiola is no Pepe Mel. Guardiola collected six national titles, the Champions League twice, and 14 winners’ medals in sundry other competitions.