Pep Guardiola’s claims about Luciano Spalletti haven’t gone unnoticed by Italian media with Tuesday’s edition of Tuttosport newspaper saying the Manchester City coach ‘vented his stress’ on the Napoli boss.
Guardiola refused to answer a question about Spalletti and his Napoli side on Monday, during a pre-match press conference on the eve of a Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich.
“I don’t want to talk about Napoli because the manager will be grumpy with me. So sensitive,” said the Spanish tactician.
Tuttosport newspaper published the story on the front page of Tuesday’s edition, writing: ‘Pep is stressed out and vents it on…Spalletti.’
Guardiola had praised Napoli’s Spalletti less than a month ago, saying that they play the best brand of football in Europe, alongside his Premier League rival Arsenal.
However, Spalletti looked annoyed by Guardiola’s claims and said the ex-Barcelona boss was playing “mind games.”
The Partenopei visit Milan in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, while Manchester City host Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
On Friday, the Serie A leaders secured a 2-1 win over Lecce to keep a 16-point lead over second-placed Lazio.