Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard has criticized Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, claiming he has “ruined” football by influencing coaches to think their teams can emulate Guardiola’s style of play.
Howard pointed out that many managers in the Premier League now strive to replicate Guardiola’s approach, including former U.S. national team coach Gregg Berhalter, whose attempts to model his team after City ultimately led to his dismissal.
In an interview with Metro, Howard reflected on the differences between his playing generation and Berhalter’s team, saying,
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“In my day, we were a group of tough, rugged players with a few standout match-winners. Berhalter got his team to believe they could compete and play expansively in the attacking areas.”
However, Howard feels that Guardiola’s influence has misled many into believing they can also play an expansive style.
He stated, “Pep Guardiola has taught everyone that they can play attractive football, but not everyone can. Only a handful of teams in the world can do it effectively. Sometimes, you need to be pragmatic and resolute.”
