For a manager regarded as one of the greatest in football history, Pep Guardiola’s success in the Champions League really does raise questions.
The 49-year-old is a two-time winner of the competition as a manager but he hasn’t triumphed since 2011.
And ‘Fraudiola’ was the trending topic on Twitter on Saturday as Manchester City crashed out at the hands of Lyon.
Guardiola changed the 4-3-3 system that City have succeeded with in favour of a back three with two defensive-minded midfielders.
It was an attempt to contain Lyon’s pacy forwards but they still managed to get through. Guardiola was later accused of overthinking things in Lisbon, and that appeared to be spot on.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has flourished domestically, winning titles in Spain, Germany and England, but his lack of success in Europe won’t quieten the critics.
And a brutal thread on Twitter emphasises the increasing belief that Guardiola perhaps isn’t the genius that he’s been painted out to be.
The thread has been created by @ClockEndJamesXI, with the introduction tweet reading: ‘A comprehensive thread exposing Josep Guardiola, one of the biggest frauds in football management history.’
The thread claims Guardiola is an ‘inheritance merchant’, having taken over Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Man City squads with plenty of world-class players in them.
His spending in the transfer market is also highlighted. When they both arrived in the Premier League ahead of the 2016/17 season, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte managed to win the title despite spending considerably less than Guardiola.
We then move on to Guardiola’s record in Europe.
“At the end of the day, Guardiola was brought to Man City to win the Champions League, but instead he’s FAILED to get further than his predecessor, despite assembling the most expensive squad in the HISTORY of football,” reads one of the tweets.
Guardiola’s man-management skills are then criticised, before @ClockEndJamesXI delivers one final stinging blow.
“Guardiola only succeeds in circumstances where it’s impossible to fail,” the fan writes.
Ouch.
Click HERE to read the thread in its entirety.
GIVEMESPORT's Scott Wilson says:
Guardiola makes it pretty easy for his critics.
He's still yet to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League with Man City, despite being given the keys to an excessively large bank.
Of course, football is a game of margins. The Etihad Stadium club had genuine concerns over the legality of Lyon's second goal, while Raheem Sterling should never have missed from six yards out.
But it all starts with Guardiola and his decision to tinker with the system that has worked well for him and his players.
The Man City boss said it was to defend against Lyon's threat. But why not force Lyon, who finished seventh in Ligue 1, defend against City's threat?
The decision to reverse City's European ban means Guardiola will get another shot at it next season, but it could very well be his last.