Barcelona defender Dani Alves says it was the players who were to blame for Pep Guardiola’s exit at the end of last season.
Guardiola quit the Camp Nou for a one-year sabbatical from the game believing he needed to recharge his batteries, but Brazilian international Alves believes he departed for an entirely different reason.
“Pep said he would leave when the players were no longer responding to him,” explained Alves in an interview with Le Buteur.
“We didn’t respond to him on the pitch as he’d have liked and that is why we players feel responsible for his departure.”
Alves also spoke of compatriot Neymar and feels the 20-year-old Santos player would benefit by a move to Europe to further his football education.
“The difference between Lionel Messi and Neymar is that Messi plays in Europe while Neymar is still in Brazil.
“There he has no tactical discipline and it is important for a team to have players with maturity and a sense of responsibility.”