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Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, Premier League, Patrice Evra, Dimitar Berbatov
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Pep Guardiola, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, Premier League, Patrice Evra, Dimitar Berbatov
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has issued a blistering response to Patrice Evra and Dimitar Berbatov after the former Manchester United duo questioned his abilities as a manager.
Evra criticised Guardiola by claiming he is unable to train people with 'personality' and that players only move to the Etihad for money, following City's dramatic defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Berbatov likened City's capitulation against Madrid to how a 'small club' would react under pressure, while former Real Madrid star Clarence Seedorf also questioned a 'lack of mentality' in Guardiola's squad.
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After being asked to respond to that criticism, Guardiola took the opportunity to remind Evra and Berbatov of Manchester United's defeat to his Barcelona side in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.
"You cannot have personality because you concede two goals in one minutes after you have chances to score?" said Guardiola.
"And after the last four games we scored 19 goals so we have incredible personality and these kind of things? I'm sorry but I completely disagree.
"The same character and personality that lost in Madrid is what we have had for the last years.
"Specialist former players like Berbatov, Seedorf and Evra and these types of people weren't there.
"I've played against them, and I didn't see this kind of personality when we destroyed United in the Champions League final.
"Personality is what we have done in the last five years every three days in all competitions.
"Maybe Liverpool is going to win all four titles or maybe just one but I'm going to say that they don't have personality and character.
"What you say they didn't do an incredible season even when they lost the league by one or two points to us?
"We arrive until the end playing good because otherwise you don't arrive. This is the most important thing."
City bounced back from their defeat to Madrid with a 5-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday before following it up with a 5-1 win at Wolves on Wednesday.
Guardiola's side remain three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and can extend that when they travel to face West Ham on Sunday, with Liverpool taking on Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.