Fabio Capello acknowledged Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona as one of the three significant ‘football revolutions’ in his life. However, he strongly criticized the current Manchester City manager, arguing that Guardiola’s ‘arrogance’ and desire to be the central figure have hindered his career success.
“I truly admire Guardiola as a coach; he has achieved remarkable things,” Capello stated in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
“In football, I have witnessed three revolutions, approximately one every two decades: Cruyff’s Ajax, Sacchi’s Milan, and Guardiola’s Barça. I readily admit this.”
Capello: Guardiola Always Sought to Be the ‘Main Character’, His Barcelona Team Harmed Football
Capello recounted his first encounter with Guardiola when the latter joined Roma as a player. Capello remembers a disagreement between them.
“We didn’t engage in meaningful discussions,” he explained.
“One day, he approached me to advise me on my coaching methods, and I responded: ‘Start running, and then you can offer your opinion.’ The reality was, he would leisurely walk around the field, and I had no intention of selecting him over more deserving players. That concluded our exchange.”
“What I dislike about Guardiola is his arrogance. The Champions League victory he secured with City is the only instance where he refrained from implementing unconventional tactics in crucial matches.
“In previous years, both at Manchester and Munich, he consistently aimed to be the focal point in critical moments. He introduced changes and innovations merely to assert: ‘I am the one who wins, not the players.’ This arrogance has cost him multiple Champions League titles. I respect him, but I perceive this pattern clearly.”
Guardiola’s 2023 Champions League triumph with Manchester City was his first major European title in 11 years, despite consistently managing top-tier teams.
He previously won the Champions League twice with Barcelona, in 2009 and 2011, with a team that Capello believes ‘inflicted significant damage on football’.
“Moreover, even though he is not responsible now, he has inflicted enormous damage to football,” Capello continued.
“Why? Because for a decade, everyone attempted to emulate him. This devastated Italian football, which lost its unique style. I kept insisting: ‘Stop now, you lack Guardiola’s caliber of players!’
“Furthermore, the misguided notion arose that playing well solely meant this: pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass… Currently, in Italian football, even the goalkeeper initiates play with the ball! It’s a catastrophe and a tedious approach that has alienated many from football—just observe the highlights. Why endure 90 minutes of sideways passing without contests or dynamic movement?
“Fortunately, football is evolving. Spain, for instance, altered their approach by winning the European Championship with two wingers and adopting a fast-paced style of play.”
Capello had previously criticized Guardiola before Manchester City’s Champions League match against Juventus in December, labeling him as ‘excessively arrogant and presumptuous’.