Pep Guardiola has hit back at Fabio Capello’s claim that he is “way too arrogant,” suggesting that Manchester City’s dominance has forced the Premier League to evolve into a more competitive league.
Capello, the legendary former England, AC Milan, and Real Madrid boss, made headlines earlier this week when he criticized Guardiola’s approach in an interview with El Mundo, stating that the Spaniard’s arrogance had cost him multiple Champions League titles.
The 78-year-old also accused Guardiola of “ruining” Italian football by inspiring coaches to adopt his possession-based tactics without the right players to execute them.
However, Guardiola was quick to defend himself, pointing to City’s remarkable success under his leadership since arriving in 2016.
The 53-year-old manager has led the club to six Premier League titles and last year secured a historic treble, including the club’s first-ever Champions League trophy.
“Naming one of the big managers, one of the exceptional managers, in Fabio Capello – it doesn’t look like it’s arrogant, I would say,” Guardiola responded. “But we helped to raise the bar in the Premier League.”
The City boss believes that his team’s dominance has forced others to improve, making England’s top flight stronger than ever.
“The teams had to go to the transfer market, right? People want to do good, people are well-organised, have good structures, make good decisions, and have good players everywhere,” he added.
Guardiola went on to highlight how much the league has evolved since his arrival, referencing clubs like Brighton, Bournemouth, and Fulham as examples of teams that have grown significantly in recent years.
“I’ve been here, I’m an old guy, the oldest manager here—nine years. I know the evolution of the Premier League has been massive. It’s incredible how they’ve changed, and it’s good, really good, for the league.”
Capello had suggested that Guardiola’s desire to be the “protagonist” had led to unnecessary tactical decisions in key games that ultimately backfired, particularly in the Champions League.
The two have a history of clashing, dating back to Guardiola’s short spell at Roma under Capello more than two decades ago. The Italian struggled to find a place for the playmaker in his rigid system, leaving him on the sidelines for much of his time in Italy.
When pressed further about Capello’s latest remarks, Guardiola offered a short but pointed response.
“I listen to everything that people say about me, everything, so be careful!” he said with a smirk.
He then signed off with a light-hearted jab: “It’s not the first time Mr. Fabio Capello has said that. I’m not good enough to ruin Italian football; it is very important. A big hug for Fabio.”
Despite Capello’s criticism, Guardiola remains focused on City’s fight to secure a top-four finish, with Brighton up next on Saturday as they aim to turn their season around.
