Ex-Bayern defender critical of Pep Guardiola's management style | OneFootball

Former Bayern Munich defender Mehdi Benatia has revealed what it’s like to play under Pep Guardiola.

And though Benatia says Guardiola is a fantastic coach, the Moroccan was less complementary about the current Manchester City manager’s people skills.

“He is perhaps the best tactician in the world,” Benatia told Radio Monte Carlo.

“I was 28 years old when I came. I though I came with a lot of football knowledge. And yet, every day, you get the impression of discovering a new aspect of football.

“He would show you how to position your body, how to control the ball so that your shoulders are wide open towards the game.

“Tactically he will always strive for superiority in midfield. I didn’t do any sprints with him in two years.

“One day I said to him: ‘But coach, won’t we ever do the strength training?’ He replied: ‘For what? My team has the ball, so we run the ball’.”

Guardiola brought Benatia to Bayern from Roma in a deal worth a reported €30m in 2014 and the defender admits he was surprised by the coach’s impersonal nature.

“It’s my opinion that many share. Guardiola is someone who does not give much importance to human relationships,” he said.

“He says it is because he has been disappointed in the past. He said to me: ‘I bought you, I wanted you. You have this quality and the other quality. I need this, I will teach you this and that, you are here to do what I say, but we are not here to be friends.’

“He is the boss, he is the one who decides, he is the one who tells you how to play. I said to him spontaneously: ‘You bought me for 30 million, so I have quality. If you took me to change me, you have to look for someone else.”

Benatia left Bayern for Juventus on an initial loan deal in 2016 and the 32-year-old now plays for Qatari side Al-Duhail.