Ribery expands on Guardiola criticism

Frenchman says Pep leaving Mueller out of Champions League semi was a mistake

French winger Franck Ribery has again criticised his ex-Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola during the club’s tour of the United States, claiming the Spaniard talks too much and lacks experience.

Guardiola is now head coach of Manchester City after three seasons with Bayern and Ribery has wasted no time in criticising his former boss. Bayern lost 5-3 to AC Milan on Wednesday in a penalty shoot-out after their friendly in Chicago finished 3-3 after extra time.

Ribery netted twice, including converting a 90th minute penalty.

Carlo Ancelotti, 57, has replaced Guardiola as Bayern coach for the 2016/17 season and Ribery has been quick to praise the Italian, at the expense of the 45-year-old Guardiola. According to Ribery, 33, Ancelotti is an experienced coach, “totally different” from Guardiola, who “has not had a long career as a coach” and the player says he feels “motivated and liberated” again on the pitch.

“I don’t need a coach to tell me what I have to do right on the pitch when I have the ball,” added Ribery.

Having sometimes had a strained relationship with Guardiola, the Frenchman says Ancelotti has given Bayern Pep Guardiola claimed his first win as City boss after beating Borussia Dortmund on penalties in Shenzhen, China yesterday.

Sergio Aguero had looked like winning it in normal time after coming off the bench to score the first City goal of Pep’s reign on 78 minutes. But the match went to spot-kicks after it was cancelled out by an injury time strike from Christian Pulisic.

In the shoot-out, Alex Garcia and Sterling both missed for City but three saves from young substitute goalkeeper Angus Gunn saw the Blues come out on top, winning in sudden death 6-5. “what we have been missing a bit” while the Italian said Ribery was “one of the best” players on the pitch in Chicago.

In magazine Sport Bild, Ribery continued his criticism of Guardiola, pointing to the Spaniard’s lack of experience despite winning 14 titles in four years with Barcelona and seven trophies in three years with Bayern. Ribery also criticised Guardiola for not starting key forward Thomas Mueller for Bayern’s 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the firstleg of the Champions League’s semi-final last season.

“You can’t make a mistake in the semi-finals of the Champions League,” he said.