Pep Guardiola Was Desperate To Coach Brazil At World Cup, Says Dani Alves
'If you let the opportunity go by, you are not thinking about the team'
The Barcelona full-back Dani Alves says Pep Guardiola wanted to coach Brazil at their home World Cup last year. Alves, who played under Guardiola for the Spanish champions, was a member of the Brazil squad whose tournament ended with the 7-1 humiliation by Germany in the semi-finals. (No 'Easy' Way Back for Brazil: Dunga)
In November 2012 Brazil had appointed Luiz Felipe Scolari as coach in succession to Mano Menezes while Guardiola was on a one-year sabbatical. Alves said the Spaniard was willing to take over the Selecao but Brazilian officials were afraid of hiring a foreign coach. (Barca Keep Big Money Stars on the Sidelines)
"Pep said he wanted to make Brazil a World Cup champion and had an entire strategy to make us a world champion," the 32-year-old told ESPN Brasil.
"They didn't want it, because they said that they didn't know if Brazil would accept a foreign coach."
"Pep is the best coach in the world, the greatest sports manager I've ever seen. He revolutionised football, revolutionised a team and we had the chance to have him with us.
"If you let an opportunity like this go by, then you are not really thinking about the national team."
Scolari made way for Dunga after the World Cup but the new man fared little better at the recent Copa America as Brazil were beaten by Paraguay.
Meanwhile Guardiola took over at Bayern Munich and has since led them to two titles.