Fabio Capello, the former England and AC Milan manager, has recently taken sharp aim at Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, labeling him as "arrogant" and asserting he has inflicted "tremendous damage" on the beautiful game of football. Despite their past relationship—Capello having managed Guardiola as a player at Roma—he holds no punches when it concerns Guardiola's coaching tactics.
Speaking with El Mundo, Capello acknowledges the contributions Guardiola has made to the sport, stating, "No, no, not at all. I value Guardiola very much as a coach, he has done wonderful things." He highlights the impact Guardiola has made historically, comparing him to football revolutions led by Johan Cruyff's Ajax, Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan, and Guardiola's own Barcelona. "I have lived through three revolutions in football, one every 20 years or so," said Capello.
Nonetheless, this appreciation quickly turns to critique as Capello notes, "Do you know what I don't like about Guardiola? His arrogance." The Italian coach believes Guardiola's behavior during pivotal Champions League matches cost him several titles. He states: "The Champions League he won with City was the only one in which he didn't try anything strange in the decisive games. But every other year, on the key days, he always wanted to be the protagonist." This continuous need to change the game plan, according to Capello, has overshadowed the contributions of the players.
Delving even darker, Capello argues, "Everyone has spent ten years trying to copy him. That has ruined Italian football, which has lost its nature." He elaborates on how the obsession with emulating Guardiola's style has dulled the unique character of Italian football, stating, "I said: 'Stop doing this, you don't have Guardiola's players!'" Other football cultures have adapted practices from Guardiola's methods, leading to what Capello describes as boring football.
He bemoans the state of the game, explaining how the Italian adaptation has devolved. "Now, in Italian football, the goalkeeper plays the ball! A disaster and also a bore... why are you going to watch 90 minutes of passes and horizontal passes without fighting, without running...?" Capello's remarks resonate with many fans frustrated with the aesthetic evolution of their local leagues.
Even as he critiques, Capello does not close the door on the idea of improvement. He mentions the recent resurgence of football style showcased during Spain's triumph at the Euro 2024, where they employed two wingers and played with speed instead of the horizontal approach he dismisses. "Luckily, football is changing. First of all, Spain by winning the Euro with two wingers and playing fast," he concludes on this note of hope for the game.
While Guardiola remains one of football's most respected managers, with impressive stats like overseeing 364 wins from 515 matches, equaling around a 70.68% win rate during his tenure at Manchester City, Capello's opinions highlight the division existent even within the football community. Indeed, with Guardiola’s history of achievements—including masterminding City's treble-winning season last year—Capello's criticisms have not been underlined by the majority of the football-watching public.
The discussion reflects not just personal disagreements but also broader trends within football, as Capello's views invite contemplation on the future of tactical evolution and its impact on the sport as traditional styles clash with more modern philosophies. With the game constantly changing and adapting, Guardiola's impact, positive or negative, will continue to be debated among fans and pundits alike.