Warning: This article contains spoilers for Ted Lasso season 3, episode 11.
Ted Lasso is usually pretty good at getting things about British soccer culture right, and in the most recent episode “Mom City” it managed to hit the nail on the head with a lot of references and behaviors — for the most part, that is. Some viewers, however, were quick to point out that one of the biggest surprises of the episode, and the most surreal moment so far for soccer fans who watch the show, wasn’t quite the accurate representation the Apple TV series has become known for.
The soccer element of today’s episode was focused on a top-of-the-table clash between our beloved underdogs A.F.C Richmond and Man City, who in real life and on the show are coached by the legendary former player and current manager Pep Guardiola. And, not only did the iconic, record-breaking Spaniard make an appearance in the show, but he actually had a few lines. So, we can add an IMDb page to his sparkling list of achievements (with an asterisk, maybe).
As interesting as it was to see Guardiola cameo, some viewers noticed he certainly didn’t act like himself. With his few lines, Pep was clear and earnest, whereas in real life he’s known for being cryptic and sarcastic, especially when feeling antagonized (like one might after a big loss). With that said, he is also known to be an intense and successful manager, nurturing his players’ personalities as well as their technical abilities, some of which might sound familiar to fans of Coach Lasso and his methods, so his line to Ted about making them the best version of themselves actually rings true, in a strange kind of way.
A few other things stood out as unrealistic about Pep’s appearance. The coach is notoriously active and vocal on the touchline, marshaling his players in real-time, especially when they’re losing. In this week’s episode, he stood glumly on the sidelines as his team was behind in their most important game of the season. And, like most ultra-successful people in sport, he’s definitely not the sort to offer a smile and words of encouragement after suffering a big, important loss, like he was handed in the show, yet he did so to Ted. However, he is definitely the sort of manager to greet a young, former player of his with grace, so the moment between him and Jamie was pretty realistic and true to his character.
It’s worth noting that the appeal of Ted Lasso isn’t its specific soccer references, but so much more. There’s its underdog fantasy — which a lot of the time is the reason people consider soccer to be such a glorious and beloved pastime — and character-driven heart, even at the beginning when it was a fish out of water, 22-minute comedy. The bones for something deeper were always there, and we’re just seeing it flourish, as we’re seeing Richmond’s football flourish too.
If you’re annoyed at “Mom City” for turning Pep into a character in the show instead of just letting him be himself, then you might just be missing the point. Then again, it would have been brilliant to see him let loose.