Four-time reigning English champion with Manchester City, Pep Guardiola was able to take advantage of the summer to clear his mind by following the Olympic basketball tournament.

He recently reacted to the suspenseful final between the French team and Team USA.

A simple glance at his record allows us to affirm that the science of football no longer really holds any secrets for him.

A legendary coach, Pep Guardiola places himself as a true lover of the round ball… but not only.

Indeed, his passion for basketball and the NBA dates back to the last century, during which he sometimes neglected his wife in favor of Michael Jordan. A passion that remains intact today.

Pep Guardiola’s astonished analysis at the Paris Olympics final
A few weeks ago, after winning his sixth Premier League title, Guardiola made headlines in the NBA by helping Joe Mazzula, coach of the Celtics.

Lately, he has been following basketball at the Paris Olympics as a simple observer, and in particular Team USA’s performance.

He has just spoken out on the subject in the Men In Blazers podcast:

Pep Guardiola: The United States really struggled against Serbia and (Nikola) Jokic and his teammates, but what a great semi-final. (…) It was so close… Through my television, I could see on the faces of the American players that they were scared. But in these moments, the best players show themselves, and that’s what happened with (Kevin) Durant, LeBron (James) and especially (Stephen) Curry.

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Impressed by Stephen Curry’s performance in the semi-final of the tournament, the Spanish tactician was even more so following the Chef’s exploits against Les Bleus, in the final:

Pep Guardiola: What a great final it was also against France. What Curry did in that match… In my life, I’ve never seen anything like that.

This guy could have shot from home, next to his wife, and still put the ball in the basket. It was really, really incredible.

After this recital, there is no doubt in Pep’s eyes that Curry is one of the greatest talents in his sport.

So much so that he did not hesitate to compare him to one of his old acquaintances, Lionel Messi, but also to other renowned athletes:

Pep Guardiola: Curry is at the level of a Messi in football, a Tiger Woods or a Jack Nicklaus in golf.

When these guys say they are going to win the game, they make sure they win it.

We talk a lot about tactics but there are certain moments when you just have to let these players do it to win.

Curry is talented and intelligent, and that is what makes great players so strong.

Whether against Serbia or France, Stephen Curry played the role of savior of Team USA and greatly contributed to its victory at the Paris Olympic Games.

It was well worth the praise of Pep Guardiola admiring his level.