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Pep Guardiola has one of the most impressive resumes in the footballing world, having won all that there is to win in club football. This includes two Champions League titles, two Premier League titles and three trophies each in Bundesliga and La Liga...the list goes on and on.
The current Manchester City boss oversaw the most successful period in Barcelona's modern history, becoming the youngest manager to lift a Champions League title to signal the birth of a modern coaching great.
Former Barcelona man Dani Alves once described Pep Guardiola as a "genius," but on the flip side, the former Bayern Munich defender, Dante, described the City supremo as someone who "isn't good on a human level." A fair share of players have had their disputes with Pep Guardiola and parted ways on rather unpleasant terms. Today, we take a look at some of them.
5 players who fell out with Pep Guardiola
#5 Dante - former Bayern Munich player
The Brazilian defender signed for the German champions in 2012 and won the European treble in his debut season at the Allianz Arena. Dante played a vital role in Bayern Munich's treble-winning season, forming a crucial defensive partnership with Jerome Boateng. The duo conceded just 15 goals in 34 matches that season and led to Bayern's record of being the only European club to lift every treble possible (continental, domestic and European).
Despite being one of the first names on the team sheet under Jupp Heynckes, Dante was pushed out of the starting XI upon Pep Guardiola's arrival. The Spaniard took over from Heynckes in 2013, and the centre-back was shown the door in 2015. In an interview,
Dante described his experience with the 50-year old, "He doesn't speak to you so as a player you don't know where you stand. There are coaches who are world-class from a tactical point of view, but who aren't good on a human level and this is the case with Guardiola."
#4 Joe Hart - former Manchester City player
Next up, we have former England and Manchester City #1, Joe Hart. Currently at Tottenham Hotspur, Joe Hart is a Manchester City legend, having spent 12 years at the club. The 33-year old was one of the key figures in Manchester City's first Premier League win when they staged a famous comeback to lift the 2011/12 PL title. However, like most players on our list, the regular starter got relegated to the bench upon Pep Guardiola's arrival.
The English international did not fit into Pep Guardiola's vision of a "sweeper keeper," and Pep went ahead with the signing of Claudio Bravo to replace the 33-year old in goal.
In the 2016 season, he was sent out on loan to Serie A outfit Torino, while Bravo was soon replaced in goal by Ederson.
#3 Yaya Toure - former Barcelona & Manchester City player
Coming in at #3 is another Manchester City legend, Yaya Toure. This fallout was one of the most controversial topics in world football back in the day, and included a public spat between Pep and Yaya Toure's agent, Dimitri Seluk. The Champions League-winning manager made it clear that the Ivory Coast international will not find a place in the City lineup unless he receives an apology.
The City legend issued a public apology on behalf of his agent, following which he was included in the Manchester City squad once again. This episode in the 2015/16 Premier League season would eventually culminate in Toure's departure from the Etihad in 2018, after spending 8 years at the club.
However, this was not the only time Toure fell out of favor under Pep, as he was also replaced by a young Sergio Busquets in the Barcelona lineup. The duo crossed paths once again at the Etihad seven years later, and history repeated itself as the Ivorian found himself on the bench once again.
#2 Samuel Eto'o - former Barcelona player
Speaking of public fallouts, we have Samuel Eto'o at the penultimate position on our list. The former Barcelona man played under Pep in the manager's debut season at Camp Nou. The former Cameroon international was at the peak of his powers back then, and his goal-scoring exploits helped Barca lift the treble in the 2008-09 season. One would imagine the successful pairing to grow from strength to strength, but Eto'o was sold the following season to Inter Milan.
Speaking of Pep Guardiola, the Cameroonian remarked, "He didn't have the courage to tell me things to my face. I told him 'I'm Samuel Eto'o and I'm the one who makes you win. [Guardiola] was lecturing me on how to attack when he played as a midfielder."
He went on to say in the interview, "Xavi told me they wanted me to stay but I had to talk to Pep. I say 'Never, if you do not respect me, I do not respect you."
The Spaniard must have a little regret about his decision to let Eto'o leave as he won a treble with Inter Milan under one of Pep's adversaries, Jose Mourinho, in his debut season. Adding to this, Eto'o left for Inter in a deal involving €46 million plus the Cameroonian for Inter's star striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. That story follows.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - former Barcelona player
While Pep Guardiola achieved legendary status in his years as Barcelona boss, he left behind a host of disgruntled employees - none as prolific as Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede was brought into a technically gifted Barcelona team to add another dimension to the attack with his intimidating and towering presence in front of goal. The first half of the season went exceptionally well, but it all went downhill between Pep and the enigmatic Zlatan.
The 39-year wrote in his autobiography, "I yelled 'You have no balls!' at him and probably worse things than that. You are crapping yourself because of Jose Mourinho. You can go to hell!" The AC Milan forward went on to add, "The first months were going so well and then something happened and I still don't know what as I'm still waiting for the answer. After few months after [the start of the new year] the philosophy didn't speak to me anymore."
As history suggests, Pep Guardiola's tactical acumen is second to none, but one might argue he's not the best when it comes to man-management.
