MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 08:33:17| >> :120:8906:8906:

Gianfranco Zola sought advice from Pep Guardiola

Zola sought advice from Guardiola
© PA Photos
Watford manager Gianfranco Zola says that he visited Pep Guardiola at Barcelona for advice after being fired by West Ham United in 2010.

Gianfranco Zola has admitted the he sought the advice of former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola after being sacked by West Ham United.

The former Chelsea striker took a two-year break from management after leaving Upton Park, before eventually returning to take charge of Watford.

The 46-year-old told Sky Sports News: "It was tough. That's why I took time off. It was time to go back to basics, to go back to the books and do things that could help me with my managerial career.

"I watched a few teams that I was interested in. The first team was a Serie B team Pescara where [Zdenek] Zeman was the manager. I like him and his style of football. I spent time with him and it was very good.

"Then I went to see Barcelona, another pretty good team, and it was very inspirational, and it wasn't inspirational because of all the stuff they do on the pitch, it was also the way they conducted themselves, the players and managers. That impressed me very much. Very remarkable."

Zola's Watford side face Crystal Palace in the Championship playoff final tomorrow.

ID:86147: cacheID:86147:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2045:
Written by
Sian Cowper
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Watford manager Gianfranco Zola during the Championship match against Leicester on April 26, 2013
Read Next:
Zola: 'Players must enjoy final'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
15Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
16Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
17Derby CountyDerby205692226-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth183872130-917
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!