Guardiola labelled “egocentric” after post-Barcelona Champions League failures

Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus has hit out at Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and has criticised him for his repeated recent failures in the Champions League.

Guardiola won the competition twice while at Barcelona, but since then has failed to make it past the semi-final stage with either Bayern Munich or City.

He was widely criticised after City’s 3-1 defeat to Lyon in the quarter-final last month after he made a number of tactical changes for the game.

And speaking to German outlet Sport Bild Matthaus said the Catalan boss deserves to be scrutinised for his recent poor record in Europe’s elite tournament.

“With Pep Guardiola I have the feeling that he always wants to do something special in big games,” he said.

“Barcelona had a DNA, a system he pulled through. Pep was successful there. With Bayern and City, he tried it over and over again with changes and failed again and again.

“He always wanted to show that he could do even better. I would like to tell him: Pep, you are a giant trainer – but please keep your system!

“I would describe it as egocentric. Yes, that’s a harsh word, but it is due to what he did. At Bayern, Robert Lewandowski even had to play left wing once. That did not work out at all.”

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Guardiola will be desperately hoping City can progress deep into the competition next season, having been knocked out at the quarter-finals for the last three campaigns in a row.

They will also be looking to regain their Premier League title after Liverpool won it last season, preventing them from triumphing for a third consecutive time.

City kick off the new campaign with a difficult-looking trip to Wolves on September 21 before hosting Leicester City on September 27.