“He has killed football”: UEFA vice-president takes Pep Guardiola to task

UEFA vice-president Zbigniew Boniek, one of Poland's greatest football legends, has sharply criticised Pep Guardiola in an interview with Corriere dello Sport. He also explained why he ranks Diego Maradona above Lionel Messi.

A former Juventus and Roma player, Boniek sees the possession-based philosophy of Manchester City's former manager as a sign of where football has gone wrong. "I have great respect for Guardiola, but he has ruined football," said the 68-year-old.

"His football works on the principle of: you pass to me, I pass to you, you pass to me, I pass to you. We go right, come back left, and by the end of the game you've made 1788 passes. I don't enjoy that. I like a team that play vertically, a team that try to score a goal. I like teams that go forward."

In Serie A, Boniek singled out Lazio, the city rivals of his former club Roma, and Frosinone as examples of a more direct approach. "This year, for example, I like the way Lazio play, precisely because they play vertically and take risks. Or Frosinone: they risk conceding three goals, but could score four or five," Boniek said.

"I love football where you try to score a goal in the simplest possible way, with few passes. Few passes, but quick ones. That's why I believe slowness has been banished from football today. Slow players no longer stand a chance. And playing the ball backwards is something that kills you."

Maradona or Messi? UEFA vice-president delivers clear verdict

Turning to the debate over football's greatest player, Boniek compared Lionel Messi with Diego Armando Maradona and made his choice.

"Both are extraordinary talents, but there is a fundamental difference: Diego played in an era of football when there were lots of fouls. Lionel plays in a world where you're no longer allowed to touch anyone on the pitch," he said, adding: "The way defenders treated Maradona cannot be compared with what happens today. Diego is unique, even though he had an extremely complicated life. If I'm asked to choose, I always choose Maradona."

Boniek also recalled an incident from his time at Juventus, when he faced Maradona's Napoli. "At the end of the first half, we went into the dressing room and someone said: We need to give Maradona a few hard knocks, because he's doing whatever he wants. We went back out and nobody touched him because we admired him too much. He was simply too good. Diego was also a good guy and very likeable. I'm in love with him."