Pep Guardiola has fired back at Fabio Capello’s claim that his arrogance has cost him multiple Champions League titles, insisting that his Manchester City tenure has elevated the Premier League’s competitive standards.
Capello, the former AC Milan, Real Madrid, and England manager, told El Mundo that Guardiola is “way too arrogant and presumptuous,” arguing that his obsession with proving his tactics were the key to City’s success had led to unnecessary Champions League failures.
The 78-year-old Italian also accused Guardiola of ruining Italian football, claiming that managers had unsuccessfully tried to imitate his possession-based style without the right players.
Guardiola, however, dismissed the remarks, pointing out that City’s dominance—winning six Premier League titles and their first Champions League trophy under his leadership—has forced other clubs to raise their game.
“We helped raise the bar in the Premier League,” Guardiola said. “The teams had to go to the transfer market, make better decisions, and improve their squads. The evolution of the league has been massive in my time here.”
Despite his team sitting fifth in the table this season, Guardiola remains proud of his influence on English football, while playfully warning critics: “I listen to everything people say about me, so be careful!”
