A great insight.
Pep Guardiola and Pádraic Joyce is the meeting we didn’t know we needed until now.
The Galway boss revealed that he met the Manchester City manager recently and was lucky enough to have a candid chat with the tactical maestro.
He explained: “No, look, it’s just one of those things.
“I was at a game. I got a charity event that I got over with, won some tickets at it, and went over, and that was part of the part of the thing was to be around that area.
“Luckily enough, I got to meet him. You know, [he’s] an awfully nice man. I had a little conversation for three or four minutes. It was nice to meet him.”
Joyce also spoke about his love for American football and Guardiola’s fascination with a certain aspect of the GAA.
The Tribesmen manager added: “I’d be big into the NFL as well. That’s more set-play based — you know exactly what you’re doing when you go out. Soccer has more flamboyance, especially from the key players. Watching it live, the movement of the main strikers, how they get free — you pick up bits and pieces. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, I just enjoy watching all sports.
“Pep found it fascinating that you can fill a stadium with 82,000 people and the players don’t get rewarded for it. That’s just the nature of it. We’re an indigenous sport.
“When you compare the physicality of GAA players to soccer, our lads are probably fitter and stronger. For people looking in from the outside, it’s bamboozling. I don’t see that changing any time soon.”
Perhaps the chance to speak to one of the world’s premier coaches will be just what Joyce and Galway needed as they look to bounce back from a disappointing All-Ireland quarter-final exit last season.
