Liverpool legend Graeme Souness doesn’t buy into the claims that Pep Guardiola is the best Manager of all time. He says the Manchester City boss has “just had the best players”.
Graeme Souness has told Pep Guardiola that he is no managerial genius.
Souness reckons the Manchester City boss’s success is because of him having the best players – like Lionel Messi. Guardiola is widely regarded by many as one of the greatest managers of all time.
The Spanish tactician has won 37 major trophies with 3 clubs. He is the most decorated manager in football history.
He also won the Treble with City last season. And He is closing in on another title what would be a historic fourth Premier League title in a row.
Graeme Souness doesn’t believe Pep is the best
Souness believes Guardiola’s trophy haul is because he has taken charge of clubs with huge talent and big money to spend on superstar signings. The Liverpool legend told William Hill’s ‘Three Up Front’ podcast :
“Pep Guardiola has managed three clubs – and in all of those he has had the best group of players in whatever league he’s been in.
“He took over from Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona, where he had Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and many others. He went to Bayern Munich after they had just won the Quadruple.
“Then he came to Manchester City, where he took over a side that both Manuel Pellegrini and Roberto Mancini had won the Premier League with. He took over an exceptional group of players in every case.
“City are the richest team in England, and they only needed the slightest bit of tweaking when he took over. He obviously manages players very well, but there is no genius there. It is just about having the best players.”
The Liverpool legend added:
“If you have the best manager in the world with an average group of players, then you won’t win anything.
“If you have an average manager with great players, then you have a chance at being successful. I’ve been in dressing rooms where everything had been set in stone for the squad by the players that came before us, so the manager barely had to speak to us.
“I’m not exaggerating when I say team talks at Liverpool were sometimes as simple as, ‘today you’re playing a team in the bottom three, we’re top of the league. If you don’t match them for effort they might beat us, but if you do match them for effort, then we’ll win‘.
“But for that to work, you’ve got to have top players.”
Souness is known for making cryptic remarks, especially when it comes to Guardiola. Although part of what he says is true, disregarding Pep’s success over the years is unnecessary. Guardiola albeit has spend a huge chunk of money since taking the reigns over at City has been hugely successful.
He has led City to 5 Premier League titles meanwhile also winning the historic treble last season. The only criticism Guardiola can get is not winning the Champions League sooner with City. They have been among Europe’s best teams for the past few years.
As featured on https://www.manchestercity.news/
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