Whilst many Italian fans will be rooting for Inter Milan in the Champions League fan, supporters of Lombardia-based club Brescia will be turning out to cheer for Man City and Pep Guardiola.
The reason for this is detailed in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews. City coach Guardiola has a longstanding connection with Brescia from his playing days.
Whilst the club that Guardiola is best associated with as a player is Barcelona, the Spaniard also spent some time playing in Serie A.
In fact, Guardiola left the Blaugranas at the age of thirty to join Brescia in 2001. He arrived as the replacement of Andre Pirlo, who had ironically been on loan from Inter. Pirlo was off to join AC Milan that summer.
The former Barcelona midfielder and future revolutionary coach made quite an impression at the club.
Guardiola spent one season at Brescia, and then moved to Roma. Then, the Spaniard transferred right back to Brescia.
Brescia Fans Still Revere History With Man City Coach Pep Guardiola
City coach Guardiola didn’t have the happiest of ends to his time at Brescia.
The then-midfielder received a doping ban due to alleged use of banned substance. However, he was subsequently cleared of all the charges on an appeal.
Despite the fact that he hadn’t even been available to play for Brescia after that, the bond between Guardiola and the fans remained.
The fans of the club continued to support Guardiola. The effort that the Spaniard had made to join the club inspired something in the Brescia fans.
And, for his part, the Spanish coach continues to feel a lot of affection for the city and club.
Guardiola still spends time in Brescia on vacation. The coach appears to feel a sense of ease and comfort around the city.
At the moment, Brescia fans do not have a great deal to feel optimistic about. The Lombard club has just been relegated to Serie C.
However, they will at least have a chance to see a well-loved former player succeeding at the highest level of football.
Many will be rooting for him to do just that. Even if it comes at the expense of a fellow Lombard team in the form of Inter.
