Fabio Capello has lamented Italian football's obsession with Pep Guardiola as a major reason behind their World Cup failure.
The Azzurri were shocked by North Macedonia in their World Cup qualifier as the underdogs claimed a 1-0 victory in Palermo. It means the Euro 2020 champions, who toppled England at Wembley just nine months ago, will not be in Qatar later this year flying the flag for Europe.
Guardiola has proved to be a revolutionary coach since taking charge at Barcelona in 2008. The Catalan has led the way in possession-based tactics and pressing the opposition - something the Italians tried to emulate. Capello thinks adopting such tactics undermined their ambitions and instead thinks replicating the methods used by Jurgen Klopp would prove a better solution.
“Italian football has imitated Guardiola for 15 years,” Capello told Sky Sport Italia.
“There were no vertical passes or physical strength, there is no habit to making challenges. On the other hand, we should follow Jurgen Klopp’s playing style.
"The only ones doing that in Italy are Atalanta and look at their results. Vincenzo Italiano is trying something similar, same as Alexander Blessin at Genoa who is offering even something more than Klopp.
"The German way is the model to follow, we don’t have the technique to look at the Spanish one. There is a high pace in European competition and we are not accustomed to it. There are not enough young Italian players, but there is a wrong idea at its base. We are the country of the back pass to the goalkeeper.
“Victor Osimhen, Romelu Lukaku and Tammy Abraham were just normal strikers abroad. They became champions in Italy. This should raise some questions. Sometimes, I am surprised to read some stats. ‘That player made 45 passes…’ Ok, but how many were key passes? How many of those passes were useful?”
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Italy dominated against North Macedonia, enjoying 66 per cent of possession, but were unable to breakdown their opponents, who scored their winner in stoppage time. Roberto Mancini's future is now in doubt despite his recent achievements but he refused to get drawn on his next move.
He said: “It is difficult to comment on this match, with a goal that arrived after the 90th minute without conceding anything else. T his is a group with great players and I'm sorry because we didn't deserve it. Now it is too early to talk about the future, we still have to digest this defeat.On a human level, I can say that I love these lads more tonight than after the triumph in July. The disappointment is enormous.”
Capello has not been shy in the past of critiquing Guardiola, his methods and his selection. He took aim at the Manchester City boss after last season's Champions League final. He said: “In my view, Guardiola got the starting XI wrong. Gundogan in front of the defence couldn’t act as a midfield filter. Stones is a player who can’t defend and Gundogan couldn’t provide a filter."
