Former Manchester City defender Danilo has heaped praise on Pep Guardiola, admitting that the legendary manager completely changed his perspective on football.
Former City Star Danilo Admits He Played Football the Wrong Way
The Brazilian, who played under Guardiola for two seasons, revealed that he only truly started playing the game ‘the right way’ after working with the Spaniard at the Etihad.
Danilo, now at Juventus, described his time under Guardiola as an educational experience, saying it felt like he was attending a footballing university.
In an interview with The Guardian, he explained how the City boss reshaped his entire understanding of the sport.
“Pep Guardiola educates his players. That’s the most important thing about his work. He makes all players think about football in the same way,” Danilo said.
“Time, space, movement, possession, taking care of the ball—he makes you understand the spaces on the pitch like no other coach.”
Reflecting on his career before joining City, Danilo confessed that his approach to the game was completely different before working with Guardiola.
“It’s not that I was an idiot before I arrived at Manchester City, but I realised I played football in completely the wrong way,” he admitted.
“If I had met him earlier, he would have made my life a lot easier. I’m so glad I was able to play under him and learn from him.”
Danilo made 60 appearances for City after signing from Real Madrid in 2017, winning back-to-back Premier League titles before moving to Juventus in 2019.
His admiration for Guardiola remains strong, but not everyone shares his enthusiasm.
Ex-England manager Fabio Capello recently criticised Guardiola, accusing him of damaging football. The Italian claimed that Guardiola’s tactical experiments in big matches have cost him multiple Champions League titles.
“Do you know what I don’t like about Guardiola? His arrogance,” Capello said.
“He always wanted to be the protagonist, changing things unnecessarily. That arrogance has cost him several Champions Leagues.”
Despite differing opinions, Guardiola’s influence on football is undeniable. For Danilo, playing under the City boss was a game-changing experience—one that transformed his entire outlook on the sport.
