Pep Guardiola has reacted to Fabio Capello’s assertion that the Manchester City manager is “arrogant” and has caused “significant harm to football.”
The Citizens have not experienced a fantastic season, yet many still regard Guardiola as one of the greatest managers in history.
Guardiola has secured numerous titles with Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and his boyhood club Barcelona as a coach – but he was also an exceptional player throughout his career.
His playing style, philosophy, and tactics have proven to be so successful in contemporary football that numerous managers have tried to replicate or adopt some of his approaches.
Nonetheless, Capello has recently condemned the Man City manager as “arrogant” and lashed out at the Catalan for causing “tremendous harm to football” despite his numerous achievements.
In an interview with El Mundo, when questioned about being anti-Guardiola, Capello responded: “No, no, not at all." I have a high regard for Guardiola as a coach; he has accomplished remarkable feats.
"I have experienced three football revolutions, roughly one every 20 years: [Johan] Cruyff’s Ajax, [Arrigo] Sacchi’s Milan, and Guardiola’s Barca." “I have no issue admitting that.”
However, Capello remarked: “Are you aware of what I dislike regarding Guardiola? His hubris. The Champions League title he achieved with City was the sole one where he didn't employ any peculiar tactics in the crucial matches. However, every alternate year, in Manchester and Munich, during the crucial days, he consistently desired to be the main character.
"He altered aspects and fabricated details just to claim: ‘The players don’t win, I win.’" That hubris has led to him missing out on multiple Champions Leagues. I have respect for him, yet I recognize that distinctly. Furthermore, even though it is not his responsibility any longer, he has caused significant harm to football.
When pressed for clarification on the “tremendous damage” attributed to the Man City manager, Capello elaborated: “For ten years, everyone has tried to emulate him.” That has devastated Italian football, which has lost its essence. I remarked: ‘Cease that, you lack Guardiola’s team!’ Furthermore, the ridiculous notion that performing well was merely that. Feel, feel, feel...
“Currently, in Italian soccer, the goalie handles the ball!” A calamity and a dull experience that has frightened numerous individuals away from football, forcing them to only view the highlights. Why will you spend 90 minutes viewing passes and sideways plays without aggression or effort…?
"Fortunately, football is evolving." Firstly, it has transformed Spain by securing victory in the Euro [2024] using two wide players and playing at a quick pace.
When queried about Capello’s remarks, Guardiola gestured toward the journalist who posed the question and responded: “I pay attention to all that is said about me, so tread carefully.”
“It’s not the initial occasion Mr. Fabio Capello has mentioned that,” the Man City manager went on. "I'm not capable of destroying Italian football, which holds great significance." “A large embrace for Fabio.”
As noted by Guardiola during his press conference, Capello had previously made a remark, with the ex-England manager stating in December that the Man City manager was “excessively arrogant and overconfident.”
Capello remarked then: “Sometimes he even forfeited trophies because he aimed to show he was the one winning, not the players, leading him to exclude crucial players from the lineup in important matches." In my opinion, that was an effort to divert attention and recognition from his team.
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