Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has, late on Saturday, provided his response to claims that he behaved in a disrespectful manner in celebrating his side’s equaliser against Liverpool earlier today.
Guardiola, of course, guided his side back into action this afternoon.
Amid ongoing efforts to hunt down Premier League table-toppers Arsenal, City welcomed the aforementioned Liverpool to The Etihad, hopeful of closing the gap on the Gunners to just five points.
And, when all was said and done, this is precisely what the Sky Blues went on to do.
After falling behind early on, the day’s hosts quickly regained their composure, before ultimately romping to a 4-1 triumph, courtesy of goals on the part of all of Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish.
Jack Grealish bags a well-deserved goal to give Man City a 4-1 lead!! 🙌
He is in some serious form at the moment! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/56NUIqJnEX
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 1, 2023
As alluded to above, though, on a fine afternoon’s work for his side all told, Pep Guardiola was heavily targeted by viewers of City’s win.
Guardiola subsequently went on to exchange words with Kostas Tsimikas, before shaking the hand of Arthur Melo.
BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, for one, was left altogether unimpressed by the display, explaining at the interval that:
“I don’t know how Tsimikas hasn’t pushed the opposing manager Pep Guardiola out of the way.”
Speaking to the media post-match, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his celebratory efforts was put to City’s boss himself.
And Guardiola went on to assure that he meant no offence, adamant that:
“I was happy and I said how nice our goal was. That’s all.”
Pressed further on the fact that his actions could have been construed as provocative, the former Barcelona headmaster, though, looked utterly exacerbated, in responding:
“Nah, come on. I’m so sorry.
“Speak with Tsimikas, speak with the others. Ask him if I lack respect. I celebrate the goal with my son on that floor (the tier above).
“And I said, ‘The goal was nice, isn’t it’. That’s all. I’m so sorry. Do you think it’s a lack of respect? Ah OK, sorry. I’m so sorry.”
‘Ask him if I lack respect.’
Pep Guardiola defends his goal celebration during Manchester City’s 4-1 win over Liverpool pic.twitter.com/KqLUUxueP2
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) April 1, 2023
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