Guardiola dismisses Capello’s criticism, insists City raised Premier League standards

Pep Guardiola has shrugged off Fabio Capello's criticism, insisting that Manchester City's dominance under his management has raised the standard of the Premier League.

Capello, the former England, AC Milan, and Real Madrid manager, accused Guardiola of arrogance in an interview with El Mundo, claiming that his "presumptuous" approach had cost him several Champions League titles. The 78-year-old also argued that Guardiola had "ruined" Italian football, saying that too many coaches had attempted to copy his possession-based style without the players to execute it properly.

Guardiola, however, remains proud of his record since arriving at City in 2016, having won six Premier League titles and last season's Champions League. The Spaniard believes that his team's success has forced rivals to improve, making the league more competitive.

"To hear that from a big manager, an exceptional manager like Fabio Capello—it doesn't seem arrogant to me," Guardiola said. "But we helped to raise the bar in the Premier League. Teams had to go into the transfer market, improve their structures, and make better decisions.

"I've been here for nine years, I'm the oldest manager in the league now. The evolution has been massive. When I first went to Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham—it's different now. The level of the Premier League is incredible, and that's a good thing."

City have struggled this season after winning four straight league titles, currently sitting fifth in the table as they fight for a top-four finish.

Capello suggested that Guardiola's desire to be the "protagonist" led him to make unnecessary tactical changes in big matches, which had backfired.

The two have had their differences before. Guardiola played under Capello at Roma more than two decades ago but struggled to fit into his team, often finding himself left out of the side.

Asked specifically about the Italian's latest remarks, Guardiola offered a wry response.

"I listen to everything people say about me, so be careful!" he said. "It's not the first time Mr Fabio Capello has said that. I'm not good enough to ruin Italian football—it's very important. A big hug for Fabio."