Pep Guardiola has been accused of “arrogance” by Fabio Capello, who believes the Manchester City boss “takes credit away from his players”.
City suffered a 2-0 defeat to Juventus in Turin which marked their seventh loss in 10 matches.
Their recent rough patch has sparked heated discussions about Guardiola’s leadership, with former England manager Capello and Paolo Di Canio criticising his decisions and approach while working as pundits on Sky Sports Italy.
Capello suggested that Guardiola’s tactical choices are often motivated by a desire to highlight his own brilliance rather than empowering his players.
Arogance
Capello said: “Guardiola is a great coach, but he is far too arrogant and presumptuous.
“At times, he has even lost trophies because he wanted to prove that he was the one winning and not the players, so he dropped key figures from the side in the big games.
“That was, in my view, an attempt to take the spotlight and the credit away from his squad.”
This criticism harkens back to the 2021 Champions League final, where Guardiola’s surprising decision to exclude both Rodri and Fernandinho from the lineup and rely on Ilkay Gundogan as a lone defensive midfielder was widely criticised.
City lost that final to Chelsea 1-0, with fans and pundits alike accusing Guardiola of “overthinking.”
City’s struggles have not been limited to tactical missteps.
Goalkeeper Ederson has also faced heavy criticism for his recent performances.
His costly errors contributed to a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord at the Etihad just two weeks ago and was once again at fault when he inadvertently pushed a header from Dusan Vlahovic into his own net, gifting the Italian side their opening goal.
“Ederson has talent, but he is so arrogant that he makes these mistakes due to sheer over-confidence and trying to show off, like a back-heel flick when under pressure,” Di Canio said.
Capello echoed Di Canio’s sentiments, labelling Ederson a “disaster” and urging Guardiola to bench him until he regains focus and humility.
Did You Know?
City’s defeat in Turin leaves them in a precarious position in the Champions League standings.
They currently sit in 22nd place, just a point away from slipping out of the competition entirely.
With automatic qualification for the last 16 now likely out of reach, Guardiola’s side must deliver strong performances in their remaining group-stage matches to secure a spot in the play-offs.
Their next European fixture is a daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain in January, followed by a home game against Club Brugge.
Read more: Guardiola ‘Sucking The Life’ Out Of Grealish
Before turning their attention back to Europe, City face another high-stakes challenge: a derby against Manchester United.
The Red Devils, under the leadership of new manager Ruben Amorim, have yet to find their rhythm.
However, the intensity of the Manchester derby often defies form books, and Guardiola will need to address City’s vulnerabilities to avoid further disappointment.
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