Pep Guardiola has revealed that fear of failure has been the driving force behind his spectacular success at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now Manchester City as he prepares for the new campaign.
The 47-year-old Catalan will start the new Premier League season aiming to become the first manager since Alex Ferguson in 2009 to retain the biggest prize in English club football.
The record books are on Guardiola's side, with the City manager having won three consecutive titles at each of his previous clubs, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
But in an intriguing insight into what drives him on, Guardiola, whose team face FA Cup winners Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday, has explained how it is the fear of losing, rather than the joy of winning, that motivates him.
"I am ready, I am ready," said Guardiola of City's title defence. "From my point of view, the players don't have to be worried. I am ready to fight again.
"The fear to lose the games makes me starving and hungry again. I don't like the feeling to lose games.
"It is not good for any manager around the world so all the managers try to avoid that feeling when you lose a game.
"You feel guilty, you feel bad, your private life is not good, your relationship with the players is not good so that is why to avoid that, just with that simple fear to lose a game... it makes you hungry."
"Others play better when they are angry with their manager or decisions or because you shout at them. The important thing is that they play better, not their relations with the manager."
- Sterling issue -
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"We made it clear from the day I arrived we want him, but deals are deals, agents are agents and players are players. So at the end I don't know what is going to happen but I assure you 100 percent that the manager, sporting director and all the players want him at the club."