Manchester City are now 22nd in the Champions League standings and are at risk of an early exit from the tournament following their 2-0 loss to Juventus after picking up eight points from their first six games
Pep Guardiola has been slammed as “arrogant” by former England boss Fabio Capello, who has criticised him for his treatment of the Manchester City players amid their poor run of form.
City were beaten once again on Wednesday night as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Juventus in the Champions League and the Spaniard admitted he was doubting himself after failing to halt his side’s slump.
Guardiola’s men, who won this competition in 2023, are now 22nd in the Champions League standings and are at risk of an early exit from the tournament after picking up eight points from their first six games.
City have now lost seven of their last 10 matches in all competitions and are in the midst of a crisis after being hit hard by injuries – and they’re also eight points behind title rivals Liverpool in the Premier League.
Capello, who won the Champions League with AC Milan in 1994 and oversaw a five-year spell with England between 2007 and 2012, pointed the finger at Guardiola and said he was “too arrogant”.
The Italian accused Guardiola of trying to “take the spotlight” from his players after watching Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie scoring for Juventus to consign City to yet another painful defeat.
“Guardiola is a great coach, but he is far too arrogant and presumptuous,” he told Sky Sports Italy. “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.”
Fellow pundit Paulo Di Canio – once of West Ham – chose to focus his attention on goalkeeper Ederson and also used the word “arrogant” to describe his recent performances after coming under fire for some high-profile errors.
“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.
“Guardiola’s words were damning after the game as he admitted to self doubt amid City’s torrid run of results. He said: “Of course [I am questioning myself]. I have my thoughts. I’m stable in good moments and bad moments. I try to find a way to do it. I’m incredibly honest. If we play good, we play good.
“The dressing room is stable. Win we are happy, lose we are not. What can we do? Feel sorry for ourselves. No, we improve it and go forward. We have been in this situation this month many times. Tomorrow recover, prepare for United with our people, insist in the good things we do and try to be better.”
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