Pep Guardiola gives blunt response to Arne Slot joke at Manchester City's expense
Today at 03:16 AM
Pep Guardiola would not be drawn on Arne Slot’s joke about the 115 charges Manchester City face, happy to accept the Liverpool manager was only speaking in jest.
The Reds beat City 2-0 on Sunday and after the game Mohamed Salah suggested it could be his last meeting with Guardiola’s side as he is out of contract at the end of the season.
The uncertainty over the Egyptian’s future continues, with Liverpool yet to offer him a new deal and Slot was presented with his forward’s comments at a press conference on Tuesday.
'Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 [charges] so he doesn't expect them to be in the Premier League next season,' Slot said.
Keen to clarify he was joking, the Dutchman added: ' I do expect them to be in the Premier League. That was a joke! I do repeat, that was a joke.’
Guardiola too faced a press conference and was presented with Slot’s comments, saying: ‘It was a joke. He said it was a joke right? It was a joke.’
Guardiola was also asked about why he chose to hold six fingers up to fans at Anfield, of both Liverpool and Manchester City, representing his six Premier League titles.
It was suggested to the Spaniard that it could be a sign of him losing his cool as City struggle badly for form, without a win in seven games in all competitions.
‘We won six, yeah. I was never cool,’ he said. ‘Do you know why I was cool? Because we won. If you ever win, it’s so cool, it’s so handsome, it’s so nice. When you don’t win it’s completely the opposite. But it’s the same.’
Jose Mourinho memorably held three fingers aloft when he was Manchester United manager, with Guardiola being told this was seen as the beginning of the end for him in that role.
‘I hope not in my case,’ said the City boss. ‘Maybe we are similar like Jose, but he won three and I won six! We are together in those situations.
‘It was just to make our fans feel that what we have done is extraordinary. I want to prove that we are an incredible football club. Sooner or later it’s going to be the end but I will try to extend as much as possible for the best of my club.’
Guardiola’s looks to get back to winning ways when his team host Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night in the Premier League.
