Lionel Messi claimed former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola of Manchester City has made football worse due to other managers trying to emulate his managerial techniques.
The Argentine legendary forward Lionel Messi ironically claimed that former Barcelona boss and now Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has harmed football by making the game seem so ”simple” that his contemporaries wanted to copy his style.
The 35-year-old PSG star Messi has recalled glorious memories he had under the former Catalans boss of his time under Guardiola, winning tons of trophies together, including two UEFA Champions League campaigns, four La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups between 2008 and 2012.
The Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola started his managerial career at Barcelona but his time at the Catalan club and his coaching style despite being a freshman, is loaded with a host of achievements considered one of the most successful terms in Barcelona’s history.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or award winner Messi also claimed that the Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was the best coach he has played for, and revealed Pep excellently prepares for matches than other coaches.
The 35-year-old PSG star Messi hailed the 51-year-old Spanish manager Guardiola as the best manager he ever worked with and jokingly implied that his unique managerial style has come as damage to football as other managers have attempted to imitate him.
Pep Guardiola is no doubt one of the reigning coaches and his mastery is evident in the managerial style of his former apprentice Mikel Arteta, how he has been blooming an out-of-form Arsenal team to making them toppers of the Premier League.
“Guardiola did football a lot of harm,” Messi claimed in an interview with Movistar Plus.
“It seemed so easy and so simple that everyone wanted to copy it afterward. Later I met a lot of Guardiola out there and you realize what we did and what that was.
“Probably the best coach I’ve ever had, Guardiola has something special to prepare for matches and to communicate them.”
The Argentine superstar’s remarks arrive amidst rumors that Lionel Messi could return to Barcelona next year after his contract with PSG expires in 2023.
Meanwhile, Barcelona president Joan Laporta recounted that the seven-time Ballon d’Or victor is always welcome as Barca will always be his home.
The 35-year-old Argentine legend left Camp Nou to join PSG in 2021 due to the club’s financial crises while Barcelona brought in Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as Messi’s replacement.
However, even the current Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski wants Messi to return to Camp Nou as he claimed it would be a dream to play alongside the Argentine star.
It remains to be seen if Messi would return to the Spanish club, Barcelona as PSG are likely to reward the Argentina man for his remarkable impact so far since he joined the club with a contract extension.
Meanwhile, before Messi can decide on what club to go to next, his main focus is on the upcoming Qatar World Cup as he has revealed it will be his last chance to lift the trophy, which means he could retire before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What is next for Messi?
Messi will head with his Argentina team to Qatar to take on Saudi Arabia in their Group C 2022 World Cup opener on November 22.
