⚽ Is Pep Guardiola actually a bad manager? ⚽

Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe

The hosts express intense frustration over the ongoing international break, dismissing England's 7-0 victory over Croatia as meaningless filler. The bulk of the episode

Key takeaways

• Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe argue that Pep Guardiola only won one Champions League during his tenure at Man City while the club was allegedly cheating, questioning his managerial greatness.
• The hosts compare the Man City situation to O.J. Simpson, suggesting that even if legally cleared, the public perception of illegitimacy will permanently taint their titles.

Main topics

• International football break complaints
• Manchester City financial case & title stripping

Notable quotes

"I don't think Pep Guardiola has achieved that much in his career."

Conclusion

The episode blends sharp criticism of modern football's integrity issues

Transcript preview

Speaker 4 (0:10) Hello, you're listening to Football in Hell with... Speaker 5 (0:14) We haven't got one. Yeah. Rob Speaker 4 (0:15) Beckett and Josh Whittakam. How's it going, Josh? Come on, Speaker 5 (0:17) guys. Come on. We've got them coming in, though, haven't we? We've got them coming out of our fucking ear holes, Speaker 4 (0:22) mate. Everyone's just been busy, haven't they, in the Nations League to send them back. Of course. Of course. Josh, I am at the end of my tether. With the international break. There's so much to talk about, Speaker 5 (0:35) Rob. Speaker 4 (0:36) It's Speaker 5 (0:36) an absolute sham. Speaker 4 (0:36) Talk about the word sham. I can't believe it's still going on. At this moment in time now, it's Monday the 5th of October. There's fuck all until Saturday, and it's a piss take. It's three weeks. It's fucking insane. Everyone hates it. It's not even a money reason. All the best money comes through the top leagues anyway. No one gives a fuck about it. I watched England play Croatia in front of 7,000 school children for a reason I still don't understand. It was like watching football we played in front of Zippo's fucking circus. Fuck it off. Let's get back to the Premier League. Now. It Speaker 5 (1:12) feels like you might have been listening also to too many hours of Kandiyan O'Hara. No, Speaker 4 (1:17) not at all. I've got, there's nothing for them to talk about. Nothing's happened. Speaker 5 (1:20) That's not stopped them before. Speaker 4 (1:22) This morning on Talk Sport, Ali McCoyst was talking about the winner of a rally driving race in Sardinia. Now, if that doesn't tell you no one cares about international football, nothing will. It's a fucking disgrace and it has to stop. But I need a moralistic reason for this. Basically, the smaller nations can't compete with the bigger nations because their squads aren't big enough so they suffer over three weeks. That's my moral reason. Now, let's just fucking scrap it. I don't think that's good enough. Craig Bellamy said it. Did he? Yeah, about Wales because they keep losing. I think he's saying his squad's not big enough. It's not fair. But that's how it works. Well, yeah, exactly. If you're a small nation, you're a small nation. Either join the UK. That's Speaker 5 (2:02) the absolute romance of international football. Speaker 4 (2:05) Here's an idea for you, Wales. Just join England. I know you don't want to, but you might want a bigger chance in tournaments. Just saying. I Speaker 5 (2:11) don't think it would make any difference, would it? Speaker 4 (2:13) And that's a double slam to Wales, actually. Speaker 5 (2:18) The talk of the United Great Britain team has really gone downhill since Gareth Bale's career ended. Yeah, Speaker 4 (2:24) that really got talked out for the Olympics, didn't it? I Speaker 5 (2:29) don't think anyone wants a group of Great Britain team. No, I don't. I actually, I don't know what Craig Benway said, but it's not a bad time to be a small nation because the tournaments are getting bigger and bigger. The opportunities are getting bigger and bigger. Look at Cape Verde. Wayne, what's he called? Craig. Craig. Wayne Bellamy. Wayne Bellamy. Do Speaker 4 (2:53) you want me to go through the Wales line-up to see who you want in the England team? Yep. We've got Ward in goal. Okay. Who's he? I don't know. Ben Davis, I think he plays for... I Speaker 5 (3:03) was actually at a 50th birthday party with Ben Davis a few months ago. Was you? Yeah. That was it. Speaker 4 (3:10) All right, okay. That's spoken. Cabango? You're not interested in Ben Davis? I mean, Ben Davis hasn't Speaker 5 (3:15) got any more? Speaker 4 (3:15) Honestly, no. But let's try. Didn't speak to him. Okay. Speaker 5 (3:20) I saw Mark Noble on Saturday. Not Mark Noble. Fucking Al Jarrah Bowen. Speaker 5 (3:27) They do have a similar head. They do, don't they? And they've got a similar life. West Ham through and through. West Ham through and through, kind of fringes of England, but never quite made it their own. Speaker 4 (3:38) Bowen might go, might leave West Ham. Why would he do that now? He's 29, I reckon. He wouldn't have done it in the summer. Well, it depends how long his contract is, but I feel like he could have got one big move in the summer, couldn't he? Speaker 5 (3:51) Yeah, but he stayed. So now you're like, well, I could just be a club legend now. He's played for Speaker 4 (3:55) Hereford, Speaker 5 (3:56) Hull, Speaker 4 (3:56) West Ham. Speaker 5 (3:57) Well, this is what we need to discuss, Rob. Go on. If you're a Man City player. Yeah. Are you angling for a move? Do you think Elliot Anderson's going, you've got to be fucking kidding me? Speaker 4 (4:10) No, because I think he's thought, I'm getting paid so much money. And really, I think new players won't sign for them. But the ones that are already there know that, look, they've already been told, look, they're going to appeal it. It's going to take two, three years. By the time the appeal's done, you'd probably be on the move anyway and you'd have won a free drink. You can move then. Right, right, right. That's Speaker 1 (4:30) why Speaker 4 (4:30) they recruited, I think, so much in case there's a transfer ban. But you're not joining now, are you? Speaker 5 (4:34) Well, no, of course I'm not joining now. Well, maybe if I'm a good championship player, I think this is a great way to get a championship medal. Yeah, of Speaker 4 (4:42) course. But if you're a top international player, you're not going Man City. Speaker 5 (4:46) No. Can I say, Rob? Go on. I can't. consume enough information about the Manchester City story. Speaker 4 (4:55) Well, I can. I'm already at my limit. I just want the result. Oh, I love it. I'm bored of these people that climb out the woodwork as some sort of expert and say, you know, oh, we're joined now by Billy Killigan, who's the Talksport fraud reporter. I was like, what the fuck's this geezer's job? Where are they? All the time with other football news. Who are these? You know, the experts come out. Speaker 5 (5:18) Yeah, like football business experts. I want Speaker 4 (5:21) to hear from Cundey. Speaker 5 (5:23) I don't. Speaker 5 (5:26) You sent me a clip that thankfully didn't work of Jason Cundey and Jamie O'Hara. Speaker 4 (5:31) Yeah, I said, how can you not like this? Oh, my word. Speaker 2 (5:35) You wouldn't want to run against a pig. I tell you now, right, you ain't quicker than a pig. I reckon I'm quicker than a pig. You're not quicker than a pig. I'm 100 % quicker than a pig. Now or when you played? Now. Even now, mate. I'm quicker than a pig. Why are you looking at me like I'm not quicker than a pig? You're not quicker than a pig. I'm 100 % quicker than a pig. I guarantee you're not quicker than a pig. How much do you want to bet? I'll bet. I'll bet you a bacon sandwich. Speaker 3 (5:59) I Speaker 2 (5:59) mean, that's a bit weak, Speaker 3 (6:00) but... Speaker 2 (6:01) How quick does a pig race? 30 mile an hour. They don't, right? That's not true. Is that true? Speaker 5 (6:05) Quicker than a pig? That's better than their usual fare. Speaker 4 (6:08) I just thought that was funny. That Speaker 5 (6:11) is funny. I'll give them that. Speaker 4 (6:12) Look at the pics funny in it. Speaker 5 (6:14) I would say you could add that to your dossier of evidence that says the international break needs to end fast. Speaker 4 (6:19) Yeah, Speaker 5 (6:19) I Speaker 4 (6:19) mean, like, let's face it, that's not the peak. performance of broadcasting but there's nothing else to talk about England won 7-0 and no one cares things Speaker 5 (6:27) I want to talk about England Speaker 4 (6:28) winning Speaker 5 (6:28) 7-0 let's not do a Speaker 4 (6:29) list we know this doesn't work sorry just fucking relax into it feet up and just fucking just express yourself alright Speaker 5 (6:35) let's stay on Man City let's stay on Man City Speaker 4 (6:37) okay what do you want to say about Man City I Speaker 5 (6:39) just think it's the most fun football story that's ever happened in the history of football it's Speaker 4 (6:45) fun but it's not fun if they get off with it And it feels like they're going to get off with it. It's going to the top. It's going to the top of British politics. No, but that's not, they're not going to get involved. They're saying it was the state covered those sponsorships that separate from the ownership of the club. So you're essentially accusing the state of Abu Dhabi for fraud. And then basically what you want to do is if you're Abu Dhabi, say to the British prime minister or consulate, we're not going to do that deal anymore with you. Because of this. So get that to go away and we'll do that. That's just how it works. Speaker 5 (7:18) Yeah, but I bet you they don't. It would play too badly. How will we know this bit? I bet you're bacon sandwich. I bet you're bacon sandwich. Speaker 4 (7:30) But they might. I don't know. The great thing is, Rob, right, even if they get off. God, I need Tottenham back. Speaker 5 (7:37) Go on. Is this not brilliant that even if they get off, everyone knows. Do you know what I mean? It's like you're basically. OJ Speaker 4 (7:47) Simpson. Speaker 5 (7:47) Yeah, that's exactly what I was going to say. Literally what I was going to say. Really? Yeah. Marry me. Speaker 4 (7:54) I've just got visions of Pep Guardiola being chased down the freeway. In a white Bronco. Also, the coincidence that, oh, that just happened to be the year he left. Speaker 5 (8:04) His statement was absolutely wild. I loved it. Speaker 4 (8:08) Well, they're acting like they're being bullied by everyone. I know. Did you see the press conference where the person asked Pep Guardiola if he had ever been paid, like, in random ways like Mancini. And he got so angry about it. And you'd just be like, well, that is a fair question. Same club with the same owners. Someone's been paid. Same job. Same job. Someone's been paid in a strange way. And all he's got to say is, no, absolutely not. Not get all angry and defensive. What I like about the Pep Guardiola situation. Sorry, Speaker 5 (8:40) you're out Speaker 4 (8:40) there with your chair. You're moving it. You're in a new office today. Just moving my arms up. I find new ergonomic office chairs too confusing. It's the Speaker 5 (8:47) waves they kind of give and take. Speaker 4 (8:50) When I started in office, you had up and down. Speaker 5 (8:53) Exactly. Just Speaker 4 (8:54) up and down, roll about. That was it. Speaker 5 (8:56) Well, we don't want to hear about you and Lou meeting in the office. We've heard that story already. Speaker 5 (9:02) Pep Guardiola, because he's a bit holier than thou. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. It is fun. And it also means, I'm going to say it, I don't think Pep Guardiola has achieved that much in his career. There Speaker 4 (9:14) we go. Let's open up. Come on. Speaker 5 (9:16) So, Barcelona, he did brilliantly. But he had Lionel Messi, yeah? Speaker 4 (9:21) Yeah, Messi. And also Busquets, Iniesta and Xavi that were already there through the system. He's not had to buy them. They're just there, I think. Yeah. I think that's right, Michael. Stop me if I'm wrong. Speaker 1 (9:30) That's correct. He's inherited the greatest club team of all time with the greatest single player of all time. Okay, Speaker 4 (9:35) so I see where Michael sits on the fence. Then Bayern Munich, he won the Bundesliga. Oh, I could win the Bundesliga with you up front. Harry Kane and Josh Whitaker up front. Absolutely fine. And Speaker 5 (9:46) then he only managed to win the Champions League once while a club that had been cheating for a decade. Yes. I don't think he's a very good manager. What else has he won? Speaker 4 (9:57) That's it, isn't it? He won the Liga load of times. Yeah, but also La Liga with Messi, come on. Yeah. So what's he done? And all of the Man City stuff Speaker 5 (10:04) was cheating. Because even after the cheating, it doesn't matter. That's like going, oh, well, Lance Armstrong, you know, if you've done, if you stop taking steroids a few weeks before the Tour de France, it doesn't mean that that's. Speaker 4 (10:16) Well, also as well, what's amazing is that like, he's not even, they've not even cheated in a fun way. The point of cheating is you don't do any work. So, for example, if I had to do homework now, I'd probably just get AI to write it all and I've cheated and I've done nothing. What I wouldn't do is get AI to write it all and then write another one myself and then sort of think, oh, I don't need that. So he's ripped his hair out, scratched his head, gone mad. Everything's fallen apart around him and he was cheating anyway. I'm like, you've not benefited from the cheating. You've exhausted yourself. With this mad Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, success is everything approach. And you've cheated and you're still shit. Speaker 4 (10:56) You know what I mean? One Champions League with