Pep Guardiola has snapped back at Patrice Evra’s assumption that the Manchester City boss doesn’t want players with personality or leadership qualities.
The Manchester United legend issued the dig in the aftermath of City’s heartbreaking Champions League exit to Real Madrid last week.
The Premier League leaders were well placed to book a place in the final, before a late collapse saw them miss the chance to go to Paris later this month.
The defeat has resulted in constant questioning of Guardiola’s side, with Evra suggesting that City didn’t have the character to fight back and claimed several of the players at the club were only there for the money.
Evra said: “Manchester City needs leaders, but 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... they don't have anyone on the pitch to help them.
“He chooses his teams like that, he can't train people with personality. He did it at Barcelona, but he builds his team to control everyone. When things go wrong, he always decides.
“City have made a mistake, it's the truth. They are traumatised. They remind me of PSG — they are clubs based on money. Real Madrid also has money, but it has a story behind it; Manchester City only has money and the players go to play there solely for that.
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“Then they win trophies, of course, but a player chooses to go to Manchester City only because it offers you more.”
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker branded the comments “utter nonsense” before Guardiola issued his own response, sticking up for his players and stating that he only said them in order to get a job back with his old employers.
“I don’t want personality? Well. I don’t agree, Patrice! I don’t play. I need personalities and good players to play on the pitch,” he explained. “I didn’t read it or know [what he’s said]. I have had nice, incredible players in my past as a manager at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and here. I could give a good list in terms of their personality and character.
“Most of them have won World Cups, European [Championships], Champions Leagues and leagues. Maybe Evra is right or maybe he’s doing a good quote to come back to Manchester United to work there. Maybe there’s a good chance now. “Good, Patrice — if we were together I would show you the personality and character of my players right now that we have, absolutely.”
City’s players issued their own response on Sunday, bouncing back from the loss in the Spanish capital to thrash Newcastle 5-0 in the Premier League. The win put them in the driving seat for another domestic title and they can take another massive step to a fourth in five years, if they can overcome Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday night.
