Zabaleta also spoke about City's transformation during his time there, while acknowledging the bitter memory of Argentina's defeat in the 2014 World Cup final.
On the pitch, he stood out for his tireless skills as a right-back, something he now tries to pass on to the Albanian players under his orders.
At 40 years of age, Pablo Zabaleta is an assistant coach to Sylvinho with the Albanian national team. An Argentine and a Brazilian working together in football, a rarity...
"Yes, it is true that, from a football perspective, it's something strange. We met in 2009/10 at Manchester City, and he came from Barcelona, while I had arrived a year earlier from Espanyol.
"A friendship was born there, and three years ago, he called me to help him coach Albania. It was an opportunity I jumped at."
Going to the World Cup is the dream. Now you are second in the group, seven points behind England but one ahead of Serbia. And the next challenge will be at the home of your rivals.
"We don't even know yet if we will play in Belgrade. It is a challenge that has to be taken with due precaution, because in 2016, there were problems (several scuffles between the players after a drone flew over with a flag of Greater Albania, which includes the state of Kosovo).
"It is a game that carries a lot of social risks, but we want to go to the World Cup."
What would happen if a nation with fewer than three million inhabitants were to reach the World Cup?
"Ah, they would make a statue of us in Tirana!"
You were the first Argentine ever at Manchester City. Then came such illustrious compatriots as Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, and Julian Alvarez, to name but a few. Yet, after nine years, you are the one who has planted the Argentine seed with the most fruit.
"I arrived young, at 23. And the truth is, well, yes, I spent practically my entire career in England. It was 12 years between Manchester City and West Ham."
You witnessed first-hand the transformation of City from a mid-table team to dominance in England and Europe.
"Yes, I think along with Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart, I was among the few who saw the transformation before the new owners arrived.
"Not only on a sporting level, but also in terms of infrastructure. At first, I didn't think you could really win anything with a mid-table club. And then, instead..."
Sunday, May 13th, 2012 changed everything...
"That victory in the final minutes against QPR was a historic event - mainly because we were playing for the title against Manchester United, who were also winning against Sunderland, and we were a goal down in the 90th minute."
And in that 3-2 win, hardly anyone remembers that the first goal was yours.
"That's true, it's probably the most forgotten goal in history!
"I remember that I had entered the box and Yaya Toure had served me.
"I had little time or space to think, and I kicked as best I could. The ball was saved by the goalkeeper in a strange way, it went up and ended up in the roof of the net. But in the end, it was almost pointless, if you think about it."
Then, the epic finale.
"Thank goodness it was Kun (Aguero) who scored and gave us an unforgettable title. From 2-1 down to the 90th minute, in four minutes, we took the lead and won the first title in City's modern history."
Can we say that in that moment, not only City's history changed, but yours too?
"Absolutely yes, especially the way it all happened. These are results that rarely happen in the world of football. What we experienced at that moment was like a scene from a film. And we celebrated twice as much."
You returned the favour a little bit by helping him acclimatise, and being his translator, right?
"Yes, I remember when he and Carlitos (Tevez) arrived, I was constantly acting as interpreter. After a while, they started to understand English, but at the beginning, it was up to me to help them. And one day, I asked the club management for a raise for my interpreting services!"
Two years later, however, that World Cup final between Argentina and Germany at the Maracana was not a film with a happy ending.
"Yes, that lost final is a scar that will last practically a lifetime, one that will never heal. At the end of the match, I was 29 years old, and I knew that it would be very difficult for me, perhaps, to play for the next World Cup because not everyone gets to be 33 or 34 and play, especially at full-back.
"Fortunately, Messi and Di Maria won in Qatar and got that curse off their backs. But for me, it was a huge disappointment, because to be a world champion is to touch the sky with one finger."
Back to your old team. Today, Manchester City and Napoli are playing at the Etihad. You were on the pitch on September 14th, 2011, in the same stadium. And even then, it was the first game of the round.
"The group was particularly challenging, as it included Bayern Munich and Villarreal. I already knew Lavezzi, with whom I had played in Argentina's youth team, and we had written to each other before the game.
"But City were not yet very strong, and we were not yet 100% focused on the Champions League. Napoli surprised us by drawing in Manchester and beating us in the return fixture."
That team still had an attack with Aguero, Balotelli, and Dzeko.
"Yet we were eliminated precisely because of the direct clashes with Napoli. I remember that on our return, we arrived at Capodichino airport and found about fifty Napoli fans at the airport insulting us! I felt like I was back in Argentina.
"Even when we were at the hotel, on the seafront, the street was full of Napoli fans, and that's when we knew it was going to be tough."
At the end of the season, however, came the Premier League title.
"I think it came at the peak of a season where we knew we had to focus on that path. So exiting the Champions League at the group stage was partly a blessing."
From there, City's glorious recent history truly began. Today, however, both your former team and Napoli are totally different teams from 14 years ago.
"Napoli are Italian champions and have a coach like Antonio Conte, a great coach. He has very physical players, and he had the strength to go and get a certain Kevin De Bruyne."
You mentioned in an interview on City's official website a few months ago that De Bruyne changed your team upon his arrival in 2015.
"He did, indeed. It's a bit strange to see him as another blue, but I'm sure he will continue to make a difference.
"He may no longer be the player at his peak physically as he was around 2018, but he has a unique quality, and strikers who play with him are privileged. He is still a phenomenon."
For City, what kind of game will it be?
"A difficult game, because Napoli have grown in recent years. But I am always convinced that in the Champions League it is better to start at home, especially as it is the beginning of the season.
"It is better for Guardiola to avoid the chaos in Naples and be able to play this game in front of his own fans.
"Like in South America, some stadiums are best avoided!"