Man City boss Pep Guardiola issues Steven Gerrard apology

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has publicly apologised to Steven Gerrard after calling out the Liverpool legend in his press conference last week. The Spaniard had sarcastically suggested that City had been responsible for the Englishman’s slip in 2014 which had cost his side the title as he defended his club against their Premier League charges but retracted his comments ahead of Wednesday’s match with Arsenal. 

Guardiola’s initial comments had come as he launched a passionate defence of the Sky Blues in his first press conference since being charged with 115 financial rule breaches by the Premier League. 

The Spaniard had suggested that the Citizens had been responsible for other things to go wrong in Premier League history, including Gerrard’s slip, in comments he has since come to regret. 

“In that situation at Anfield, I didn’t want it [to happen] out of respect for Steven Gerrard, but it’s our fault, come on,” Guardiola said last Friday. “That belongs to us. The moments that we lived, these years together.”

However, he retracted his statement as he spoke to the media ahead of Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal, offering the Liverpool icon a whole-hearted apology.

“I apologise to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary and stupid comments I said last time about him,” he told reporters before any questions were asked. “He knows how I admire him for what he has done in the country. I am ashamed of myself, he doesn’t deserve it.

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“I do not truly believe one week ago we are out of form and now we’re back in form. Every game is different, you can play good and win and everything is perfect but tomorrow you could lose. Many games to play. Tomorrow is an important one, everyone knows it, and we’ll try to do our best.

“It’s important cause we can take the points, the best team so far could not. I have a feeling many things can happen. Tomorrow can help us be there but there are many games, tough games. We can not deny it’s important to prove ourselves and handle the many aspects.” 

Kick-off at the Emirates is at 7.30pm with the match broadcast live on Amazon Prime.