Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit back at Fabio Capello’s accusation of arrogance, defending his tactical approach and insisting that his leadership has contributed to the improvement of the Premier League.
Capello, the legendary Italian manager, recently criticized Guardiola for being “too arrogant” and for allegedly causing a decline in Italian football with his possession-based tactics. He also claimed that Guardiola’s arrogance had cost him several Champions League titles.
In his response, Guardiola downplayed the criticism, asserting that his achievements, including multiple Premier League titles and a historic Champions League win, have pushed English football to greater heights. “Naming Fabio Capello, one of the big managers, doesn’t seem arrogant to me,” Guardiola said. He added that City’s success has forced other teams in the Premier League to raise their standards, including spending in the transfer market to improve their squads.
This marks another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between the two. Guardiola and Capello’s differing football philosophies have long been a point of tension, with Guardiola previously criticizing Capello’s methods during their time together at Roma over 20 years ago.
Guardiola closed with a light-hearted remark, saying, “I listen to everything people say about me, so be careful! It’s not the first time Mr. Capello has said that. I’m not good enough to ruin Italian football. A big hug for Fabio.”