ManagerSim November 2016 | Page 30

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Pedro, back in the days you were the manager of Betis with whom you won the UEFA cup and now you manage Barça. Your thoughts on how the game was back then compared to what it is right now?

Back in the days i entered in the end stage of the game so i did not have the time to learn in all but enjoyed a lot! Now the game is different and it doesn't have many managers but it has been a good challenge and even with the changes the game still is like a drug... probably i even like it more now even though some changes were extremely dramatic :)

What did you have to change / adapt the most now compared to then?

I need to adapt to BK mainly :) some did not and leave... the benefit was that there were no "masters" in tactics anymore... it was a fresh start for us all...

You lost a big rival when André left Réal Madrid but Luis Costa former Baryern München manager seems to just to have taken where André left and give you hard times. Tell us a bit more about that.

André gave me a hard time in Spain, just like he did to Paulo Francisco before. adding the great team he is a fantastic manager so I had to change somethings in the team in order to be able to win Real Madrid and after some time i could... After André leave i got again one of the best and most experience manager in the game, Luis Costa. Things didn't get better for Barça with this change... but again we were able to win some titles... Fabio was also in Deportivo and give us a very hard time... I like to play against the best, it is the only way to improve.

Some managers may think that the Spanish championship is a two trick pony between Barca and Real. It may have been true some seasons ago but some teams seem to be closing the gap between them-selves and the two Spanish powerhouses. Would you say that things are a bit more complicated/challenging now then it use to be when you arrived at Barcelona?

Things are much more complicated. Real Sociedad, Sevila, Zaragoça, Mallorca they all have fantastic managers... it is true that Barça and Real dominated LA Liga but for me it is the most difficult league in the game... I already had a season with zero defeats and only 3 tied games and I was not Spanish champion... that does not happen any else where... we have to play every game at 100% and now it is getting harder... and looking at the CL you see that Italian, German or English teams hardly win the title, so Real and Barça are playing strong with any team. I won 3 CL and have been in 5 finals since i am in Barcelona... why choose Italian league instead of Spanish league? I think managers do it because it is easier and not because it is harder...

Without revealing any secret, tell us what is your favourite formation ( 352 - 442 - 532 - etc ) and why?

I always play in 3-5-2 because i really think it is the most effective tactic... but i always prepare my team for it, I don't do it just because... I buy the players always thinking on that tactic, youth, and really i don't have a backup plan, and I believe it is the only tactic that allows my team to dominate the games and fill the most field ground possible...

Final question Pedro, what you be your advice to a manager who is starting and what would you like to be improved in ManagerSim ?

My advice to the newbies is to start in a smaller league (I started in Cyprus back in the days) and bet on good youngsters (even loaned players) and try to understand what is the best strategy for your team. in a smaller league we can win points easier and reach top 10 managers... after you reach top 10 wait and jump for a great team... the experience will come with time and depends also on the time you give to the game...

I believe ManagerSim is easy to play but somehow hard to master :)

The only thing I want BK to improve is... get more players, mate!

Regarding the engine BK has his ideas and a good community to help him!

Pedro Pereira

Former Celtic supremo,

current Barcelona boss with impressive trophy cabinet