Daniel Alves: 'Pep Guardiola left Barcelona because of the players'

Barcelona defender Daniel Alves has claimed that he and his teammates are responsible for the departure of Pep Guardiola.

The 41-year-old stepped down as the Blaugrana coach at the end of last season and is currently on a sabbatical.

"Pep said that he would only leave when we were no longer responding to him," Alves told Le Buteur.

"We did not respond to him on the field as he would have liked and this is why the players feel responsible for his departure."

Guardiola coached Barcelona for four years between 2008 and 2012, winning La Liga three times and the Champions League twice.