[Pat Murphy]

Guardiola Submits New-Look Coaching Plans

Josep 'Pep' Guardiola is seen by some as the favourite to succeed Frank Rijkaard as first team coach of FC Barcelona. Now, according to Sport, the current reserve team boss has submitted to his superiors a number of ideas for revolutionising the way the team works...

It appears that Guardiola has already been asked what changes he would implement if he does succeed Frank Rijkaard as coach.

Txiki Begiristain apparently asked the former blaugrana player for his thoughts on how to alter the club's modus operandi, and as such he has submitted his thoughts to the board.

Unsurprisingly, Pepe has some big ideas, given that he's dissatisfied with the way that the first team currently operates.

His key complaints are:

1) With the professionalism of the team
2) With the conduct of the medical services
3) And with the preparation for the team's physical style of play.

Addressing each point in turn, he wishes to give the team back its spirit, partially by instituting a new theory of togetherness. Instead of spending just a couple of hours a day together at training, the players will spend much of the day as a group, including at communal meals.

Further, he wishes to streamline the medical process, ensuring that diagnosis is quick and accurate, but also that those responsible for physical preparation change their ways. A new directorship could be created with responsibility for this area.

Finally, physical training as a whole will be changed, with an emphasis on avoiding injury, including a possible lessening of money-spinning pre-season tours in favour of more thorough work-outs.

In addition to the above, Pep is also eager for the technical secretary and the coach to work together in choosing signing targets, with the overall aim of producing a more balanced side, albeit one that still follows the "Barcelona style" of offensive play.

Even with that taken into account, though, he does not feel that the 4-3-3 is inviolable, but rather that the formation can change depending on the opposition's tactics.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Spain - Guardiola Submits New-Look Coaching Plans

Checks a few boxes there.

Attacking play. Team Proffesionalism. Medical Conduct. Physical Preperation. More than 1 formation option.

Sounds good, he's still my no.2 choice for the Barca job after Pellegrini.