'Guardiola can't be considered greatest manager - even if Man City hammer Inter'

04 June 2023 , 11:00

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Pep Guardiola has already sealed another Premier League title (Image: Getty Images)

“Pep Guardiola is among the top 20 managers in history but I can’t put him down as the greatest because of his Champions League record.

“All three of his clubs have been the richest or second richest in their countries and had near unlimited resources available. But he still hasn’t won it for 12 years.

“That’s the biggest factor around deciding where to rank him and when it comes to deciding on the very best he is not even in the conversation right now.

“Brian Clough won the European Cup twice in as many years having taken Forest up from the second tier two seasons before. Bob Paisley and Sir Alex Ferguson succeeded at clubs that were built organically.

Johan Cruyff changed the game without the same financial backing. There are even strong arguments to rank early period Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti higher.

Pep Guardiola went back on his word after blocking last-ditch Barcelona transfer

“But at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Guardiola has had everything at his fingertips. In terms of style his teams may have pushed the ceiling of how you could play higher but he has still fallen short for longer than a decade in the competition that matters most.

“The Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga are now so skewed that only one or two clubs with a certain depth of resources can win it. And that weakens his status.”

Pep Guardiola has dominated domestically but found European silverware hard to come by (AFP via Getty Images)

Man City should see off Inter

“Inter are tactically very good and there on merit. They have some excellent and experienced players who can hurt teams. Yet they have been on the right side of the draw and if they come out and try to be open they’ll get done 3-0, 4-0 and become a footnote to history.

“But if they are physical, take an old-fashioned English approach and use set pieces well and are good on the counterattack - they have a slim chance. When you have Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku, you can do some damage and both will be looking to make a statement.

“Finals do funny things to people. On both teams there will be players who thrive in the circumstances and four or five who let the nerves get to them and don’t play well.

“Inter can win it. Will they? I doubt it. I’m going for City to score multiple goals and deliver Abu Dhabi the trophy they have desired above all since arriving at the club in 2008. But that will not be enough to elevate Guardiola in my table of the game’s greatest gaffers.”

Stan Collymore