IN SPORT.ES
Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who is a free agent after leaving Juventus in May, questioned Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s ideas.
The Italian says Pep managed his great success with Barcelona between 2008-12 thanks “to three great players” in Xavi, Iniesta and Leo Messi. He told Courier della Sera that the play that team used cannot be applied to just any team.
“We have followed Guardiola for many years misunderstanding his game,” said Allegri. “Guardiola showed us the exception, it was not football for everyone. That historic Barcelona side was born with three great players who pressure high up and lock up rival defences in their areas.
"That way, the midfielders raise their position and attack the spaces and your defence can reach the centre of the field. But you have to have Iniesta, Xavi and Messi. We have interpreted something that only they could do as an idea suitable for everyone.”