Interviewing Premier League managers isn’t always as easy as it seems.
And talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface has revealed what it’s like to go head-to-head against one of football’s greatest ever coaches – Pep Guardiola.
Matterface had the unenviable task of talking to the Spaniard moments after Man City drew 1-1 with Newcastle United.
It was their first match since star midfielder and Ballon d’Or contender Rodri was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.
City also had a contentious penalty decision go against them, which Anthony Gordon tucked away to level the scores.
read more on pep guardiola
talkSPORT’s man on the microphone dealt with Guardiola superbly – but sometimes it’s not always so easy.
And he admitted sometimes it can be tough deal with the best in the business – likening the Man City coach to a classic fairground ride.
“We had a little bit of a moment yesterday,” said Matterface.
“I mean he was in reasonably good spirits after the game and he gave us a couple of good answers. But right at the very end of the interview yesterday I said to him, ‘You’ve set the standards of the bar so high that three draws in four matches is a surprise for everyone’.
“He looked at me and I think he was working out whether or not actually I was right with the statistics.
“He was like [working it out] and he went in to interrupt and then he just went, ‘We’ll be back’ and walked off.”
Sunday Session co-host, and ex-Chelsea star Scott Minto joked: “So you done him?”
2
“I did not do him”, laughed Matterface.
“What’s he like? Tell us,” replied Minto. “Tell us what he’s like because I love everything about him.
“But I do see him and I understand we’ve got to try and put ourselves into managers’ shoes. But they’ve got to put themselves into other people’s shoes as well.
“I love Pep but he’s very prickly.”
Matterface said: “Listen, he is a genius, there’s no doubt about it. The Rodri scenario, he will solve it. he will come up with a way of solving it.
“He will because his record shows you how brilliant he is and what an unbelievable tactician he is.
“Rico Lewis, he just waxes lyrical about the set-up and the way that the whole place is run. And it’s run because of him.
“Is he sometimes difficult after games? Yes, sometimes he can be and I liken it to this. Have you ever been on a bucking bronco?
“I feel like interviewing Pep is a bit like jumping on the back of a bucking bronco, holding on for dear life and just waiting for him to chuck you off.
“That’s what it’s like. At some point it’s going to end spectacularly but you have just got to hang in there for as long as possible.”
JOIN THE DUGOUT
Have your say on all things talkSPORT by joining ‘The DUGOUT’ – our new listener panel.
We’re all about diving deep into your perspectives, and making sure talkSPORT is the absolute best it can be. Your voice matters, and we want to hear it!
Pitch your game-changing ideas, and join in with fun surveys, polls, and locker-room discussions.
Just by joining, you’ll enter a prize draw to win one of four £50 Amazon vouchers, with another prize draw entry for every survey you complete after that
To join the ‘The DUGOUT’ panel, please click here.
