Former England manager Fabio Capello has stirred controversy with his claim that Manchester City players may be growing frustrated with Pep Guardiola.
Following City’s 2-0 loss to Juventus in the Champions League, their seventh defeat in the last ten matches, Capello suggested that the players “can’t stand Guardiola anymore.”
This comes after a period of poor form that has seen the Premier League champions fail to hit their usual high standards.
Despite a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, City’s struggles continued with a 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Crystal Palace, followed by the disappointing loss in Turin, leaving them in 22nd place in their Champions League group.
Capello, speaking on Sky Sport Italia, criticized City’s current style of play, stating that their passing game lacked purpose and their attacking play had become predictable.
He noted that star striker Erling Haaland was left isolated, failing to receive the service he needs. “There’s no creativity, no dynamism,” Capello said. “City once had players who could beat their man and create chaos, but now they’re flat. They’ve lost their speed, and their mindset has slowed down too.”
Capello also expressed concerns about players like Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, suggesting they were no longer performing at their peak.
In his analysis, Capello also questioned whether Guardiola’s methods were becoming stale. “Maybe after all these years, the players just can’t take Guardiola’s approach anymore,” he added.
The situation, according to Capello, is serious, and even the likes of Jeremy Doku, who has shown some flair, hasn’t been able to provide a solution.
Guardiola, who signed a contract extension last month, responded to the criticism, admitting he was questioning his own approach but insisted that his belief in his team remained unshaken.
“I try to find a way forward,” Guardiola said after the loss to Juventus. “We’ll get through this tough period. We’re making progress, even if we didn’t execute the final pass.”
The manager vowed to keep working with the squad, confident that they would eventually turn things around.