Not for the first time with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, it seems the myth is increasingly far removed from reality.
In this instance, we’re not talking about the self-styled "lion" and an opinion about himself, but more the label he attached to Pep Guardiola that has stuck as persistently as the ball does to Bernardo Silva’s left boot.
“The problem was his. It was he who hadn't solved the problem with me,” Ibrahimovic told Sky Italia in 2017, recalling their solitary season together at Barcelona.
“I remember on my first day, he told me that the Barcelona players didn't turn up to training in Ferraris or Porsches.
“He'd already judged me then, but if you don't know a person, then you can't judge them. I had my experience with him, I don't know about others.”
Ibrahimovic went on to namecheck others, including ex-Bayern Munich forward Mario Mandzukic, who similarly painted a picture of a judgemental, standoffish coach without a nurturing side.
" Guardiola disappointed me, he did not treat me with respect," Mandzukic told Sportske novosti after leaving Bayern for Atletico Madrid in 2014 at the end of Guardiola’s first season in charge.
"Would I sit down with [Guardiola] to have a cup of coffee? That is not going to happen. In my professional life, I do not have to like everyone, but when I feel negative energy with someone I try and avoid that person."
There are similar tales to accompany the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure and others. Obviously, no coach is going to be universally liked by his players, but the dye was cast with Guardiola. Once you were out of favour, that was it. You were chucked aside, no good to him anymore.
Pep says relax
Even if there was an element of truth to that in his more combustible early days as a coach, the Guardiola we find in his sixth season at Manchester City seems to be a very different character.
“Always I say to the players, demand [from] yourself as much as possible - don’t put a lot of pressure on your shoulders,” he said on Friday.
“In a career, a football player is not always 10, 10, 10, 10. There are highs and lows. Don’t be too, too low.
“Sometimes it happens because they want to perform well and achieve the stats they have in the past. But, at the same time, relax.”
Guardiola was in a relaxed and jovial mood ahead of Sunday’s game against West Ham, with every right to bask in Wednesday’s superb 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain despite the absences of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne.
City’s star performers on the night were Bernardo, Rodri and Kyle Walker. Their match-winner was Gabriel Jesus.
Each is enjoying a fine season and every one of those players have experienced hardship during Guardiola's reign.
Benardo has reportedly been keen on leaving for the past two close seasons, while Rodri fell out of favour towards the end of last term to the extent that his manager infamously picked no holding midfielder at all for the Champions League final.
Jesus was also out of the first XI at that stage but is a player reborn having rebuilt his confidence predominantly on the right-wing this term.
Walker was dropped mid-season in 2018/19 and lost his England place, before suffering a stint as second-choice right-back last time around.
That was when Joao Cancelo first came to the fore a maverick, hybrid full-back option. The Portugal international also struggled amid a tough introduction to life with Guardiola but is now one of the Premier League’s standout performers.
Raheem redemption on the cards?
“We are lucky that every player gives everything, in every training session and in the games. Just take a look at how we run, how we fight and how we try to do good games,” Guardiola said, highlighting something easily proved by even the most cursory glance at the PSG game.
The discussion around out of form players was prompted by a question about Raheem Sterling, whose long form slump in club colours might just be behind him after three goals in the past three matches.
Guardiola was keen not to make the discussion about the England star specifically, but he has numerous examples to follow in the squad - players who looked to have reached a dead end at City but never lost their manager’s trust.
“When it happens they have to go back to the basics,” Pep explained. “They have to know, at this level, dropping a little bit is normal - this crazy calendar, every season more games, more games and they don’t have time to rest.
“You cannot imagine how difficult it is for the talented players, every three days to be creative. It’s so difficult. These guys who have to dribble and sense an opportunity, it’s so demanding.
“Sometimes, just go back to the basics. What is your quality? Sometimes you help the team just doing defensive work and then, step by step, the basics that you have to do will be enough.
“After, the confidence comes back, the team is winning and you come back to who you are.”
All the very best coaches evolve and change with the times and this palpable compassion Guardiola has for those superstars who struggle on his watch might be as important as any of the tactical innovations he has unveiled in Manchester.
The man speaking on Friday sounded like a completely different person to the one described by Ibrahimovic and all the better for it, irrespective of whether the enigmatic Swede knows his way around a tall tale or two.
Do you think Raheem Sterling can have a Bernardo Silva-style turnaround? Follow our City Is Ours editor Dom Farrell on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
