Pep Guardiola has responded sarcastically to recent criticism from Fabio Capello, who accused him of arrogance and claimed he had “ruined Italian football” while making the sport boring. The former England manager made his comments in a recent interview, prompting a reaction from Guardiola when asked about them.
“I listen to everything that people say about me. Everything. So be careful. I am controlling you,” he joked. “It’s not the first time that Mr. Fabio Capello said that. I’m not good enough to win Italian football. Italian football is much, much more important than the way you do it. A big hug from Fabio. A big hug.”
Capello expressed his displeasure with Guardiola’s style of play, saying that his influence over football had a negative impact. “You know what I don’t like about Guardiola? His arrogance. The Champions League he won with City against Inter was the only one where he didn’t try anything funny in the decisive matches. He has done a lot of harm to football. Because everyone spent 10 years trying to copy him. It ruined Italian football. A disaster and also a boredom that made many people flee from football.”
Capello had previously coached Guardiola during a brief and largely uneventful spell at Roma in 2002. Guardiola was given few opportunities to play, later joking that he knew the bench at the Stadio Olimpico better than the pitch.
Guardiola’s response reflected his typically measured and sometimes playful approach to criticism. He has frequently faced scrutiny for his tactical innovations, with some believing his influence has reshaped football for the better while others argue that it has made the game too rigid and predictable.
His current club, Manchester City, suffered an early exit from the Champions League last month at the hands of Real Madrid in the playoff round. This marked the first time since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016 that the club failed to reach the last 16 of the competition. Despite the setback, he appeared unfazed by the outcome.
“It doesn’t hurt,” he said. “I don’t have any disappointment. We don’t deserve to be there. This season we deserve to be on the sofa, with a glass of wine. Hopefully next season we can do better and be on the pitch, not on the sofa.”
His remarks suggest he remains focused on the future, unwilling to dwell on the criticism or the recent elimination from Europe’s premier club competition. While opinions on his footballing philosophy may vary, Guardiola’s impact on the modern game remains undeniable.
