There are two men called Vladimir Weiss at Slovan Bratislava. The manager who led Slovakia to the 2010 World Cup knockout stage, and his son, the Manchester City academy product who broke down in tears while discussing a reunion with his old club.
They sat next to each other talking about miracles and how ‘fairytales become reality’ as the Slovak champions await opposition they seem to be treating as distinguished guests.
If there is a spare red carpet knocking about the capital, it will be here for Pep Guardiola on Tuesday night. And it transpired the Catalan didn’t care for that attitude.
The exercise in deference from both, but in particular Weiss Snr, spoke of a team who shipped five at Celtic a fortnight ago and don’t much fancy their chances of faring any better second time around. His main objective? ‘Survive,’ with a nervous laugh. He scoffed at how their visitors were missing Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri and nobody in the room blamed him for that.
Slovan — in the Champions League proper for the first time — are meeting City with awe, not aggression. They talked about acting as ‘dignified opposition’. Perhaps a charm offensive to lure City into a false sense of security, or perhaps not from a side whose European campaign started on July 10 and took them through four qualifying rounds.
Pep Guardiola stated that he is only focused on winning ahead of facing Slovan Bratislava
Slovan, managed by Vladimir Weiss Sr, appeared to be treating City as distinguished guests
Weiss Jnr is eager for Slovan Bratislava to produce 'a miracle' when they take on City
‘I would compare Pep to Antoni Gaudi,’ Weiss Snr said. ‘He’s been building something nobody could understand. He is a genius, just like when Gaudi had his idea for a cathedral and now he’s achieved what he wanted to do. He’s selected players who fit his philosophy.
‘I love Ancelotti, Klopp but Pep has changed football with his attitude and creativity and stubbornness — in a good way. I’ll wake up tomorrow and it will be reality.’
The 60-year-old did well to find a new way of showering Guardiola with praise. But he is right: the man he’s facing is an architect, although the drawings to design this season are taking a different shape without Rodri.
‘He’d not had a glass of wine?’ Guardiola joked when asked about Weiss Snr’s comparison. ‘We are finishing the Sagrada Familia, still it’s not done. But when you go there into this temple, you realise this person Gaudi — in that time, without 3Ds and all this technology — had the vision to create or think this type of thing.
‘Hopefully in my adorable and lovely country, Catalonia, sooner or later (they) can finish it, and all of the people around the world, religious or not, can enjoy it.’
Then Guardiola realised where he was, adding: ‘I want to say something honest — with this start of the press conference it seems like we are going to play a friendly game. It’s a massively important three points for us.’
Vladimir Weiss has a strong connection with City, who he played for as a youngster
That was largely the fault of his gushing counterpart, who had wanted Real Madrid when the draw was made in Monaco, whereas his son — the 34-year-old winger who made one Premier League appearance for City under Mark Hughes — was hoping for his old employers.
He remembers calling his father from the tunnel after scoring his only goal against Arsenal in the League Cup and was tearful when reflecting on a career which is now in its twilight.
‘They are close to my heart,’ Weiss Jnr said. ‘I left as a young teenager and when I came back, my dad said I was a man. I also have very fond memories of the family I grew up with there. It was in Didsbury, a place called Winchester Park. I lived with a woman called Barbara and her husband Les with their kids and two dogs.
‘The beginning for me was extremely difficult. I fought through it with the help of my parents and everybody at City. I’m very grateful because the first few months I wanted to go back, I was really homesick. It was difficult but it made me the way I am, so I’m grateful.
‘This game is a reward for everything the people here have given us and we’ve given them. Tomorrow is about enjoying ourselves. We will try to do all we can to try to produce a miracle.’