As both managers gear up for critical matches in the Champions League quarterfinals, Pep Guardiola and Luciano Spalletti have ramped up their verbal spat.
Guardiola initially complimented Napoli quietly for the enormous achievements they have made this season, but now the two teams are constantly exchanging punches.
The Partenopei are close to winning their first Scudetto in more than 30 years, as the Manchester City manager earlier complimented.
What Spalletti said about Guardiola
However, as Sports Brief reported, Spalletti slammed Guardiola for his remarks by claiming that it is often a tactic of the Spanish boss to rattle other teams.
When asked if he was proud of the comments made by the Manchester City coach, the Florence-born manager retorted:
Napoli's Luciano Spalletti does not want to hear Pep Guardiola's praise 👀 pic.twitter.com/T6tXMX9myy
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 16, 2023
“No, I’m not proud. It doesn’t make me proud. It’s a game to put pressure on the rest. We all know it already,” he said, as quoted by Marca. “How are you going to put a team that invested 9 million euros ahead of a team that spent 900 million?
It’s a little game to say we’ll put you there and then you’re sure to fall.”
Guardiola’s response to Spalletti
Speaking ahead of his side’s UCL game against Bayern Munich, Guardiola declined to talk about Napoli, claiming Spalletti was being sensitive.
“I don’t want to talk about Napoli because the manager will be grumpy with me,” he quipped, as quoted by Football Italia.
Guardiola and Spalletii can only face off in the finals. Napoli play AC Milan, looking to offer an instant response after the stinging 4-0 loss after the international break.
Victor Osimhen remains a doubt for the clash.