Gary Lineker has responded to Patrice Evra's claim that Pep Guardiola doesn't want any leaders at Manchester City due to his management.
The former Manchester United defender believes the Spaniard cannot coach players with 'personality' which has contributed to their downfall in some of the bigger games this season. This is after the Citizens bowed out of the Champions League against Real Madrid in the semi-final last week.
City led by two goals in the tie heading into added-time at the Santiago Bernabau but conceded twice in a matter of moments thanks to Rodrygo's brace. It meant Real would take the game to extra-time and Karim Benzema's late penalty proved to be the difference in the end.
Evra said: "Manchester City need leaders but Pep Guardiola doesn't want leaders. He doesn't want personality. He's the leader. That's why when they're in trouble they don't want to step up. He builds teams like that, he can't coach people with personality."
In response to the Frenchman's comments, Lineker wasn't having any of it. He said: "Utter nonsense."
Guardiola was appointed as City's new boss in 2016 and almost immediately transformed their playing style which involved a mass rebuild of the club. Joe Hart, Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Wilfried Bony were amongst those to leave in Guardiola's first summer in charge.
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However, the Citizens struggled during his maiden season, finishing in fourth and without a trophy. But Guardiola managed to pull the strings together in 17/18 as City won the Premier League and the League Cup.
They secured the domestic treble in the following campaign as City began to cement their dominance on English football despite pipping Liverpool to the title by a point. It would be the Reds who stopped City from winning a third successive title in 19/20.
Normal service was resumed last season, however, with City comfortably securing their third Premier League triumph under Guardiola ahead of neighbours Manchester United. Although City have been successful in domestic competitions, the same cannot be said about the Champions League.
Guardiola was supposedly brought in to win the top tier of European football, but he has been unable to get that one over the line. The closest City have got was in last year's final where they lost 1-0 to Chelsea in Porto.
After losing against Los Blanos last Wednesday, City will have to wait until next season to have a go again at the competition. The proposed signing of talented forward Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund will no doubt help their cause.
