- Pep Guardiola dismissed criticism of Manchester City’s celebrations after their win over Arsenal, calling the remarks “stupid”
- Wayne Rooney had claimed City’s celebrations were excessive following the 2–1 victory
- Guardiola insisted the players were justified, citing the importance of beating a strong title rival
Pep Guardiola has strongly rejected criticism of his players’ celebrations following Manchester City’s hard-fought 2–1 victory over Arsenal, describing the backlash as “stupid”.
City edged past the Gunners in a tightly contested encounter on Sunday, a result that kept them firmly in contention for the Premier League title. The win means Guardiola’s side could move to the top of the table if they secure another victory against Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday.
However, the post-match celebrations drew criticism from some quarters, including former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who suggested that City’s reaction had been excessive.
Responding to the remarks, Guardiola dismissed the criticism outright, insisting that his players had every right to celebrate a significant victory against a direct title rival.
“When they celebrated, people can say whatever – stupid things they want to say – they celebrated because they know the value of the opponent,” Guardiola said.
He emphasised that the importance of the match justified the players’ emotions, particularly given the high stakes in the closing stages of the season.
“They won and still we are there. How can they not celebrate it? As much as you respect the opponent and the fans of the opponent, celebrate however you want,” he added.
The Spaniard’s comments underline the intensity of the title race, where every point carries considerable weight. City’s narrow win over Arsenal not only boosted their own ambitions but also served as a psychological statement against one of their closest competitors.
As the season approaches its climax, Guardiola’s side will be keen to maintain momentum, with the upcoming fixture against Burnley offering another opportunity to strengthen their position at the top of the table.
Guardiola reacts to CAF decision as Morocco handed AFCON 2025 title
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed surprise following the controversial decision by the Confederation of African Football to overturn the result of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final and award victory to Morocco.
CAF’s Appeal Board earlier this week ruled against Senegal after their 1–0 win in the final was nullified. The decision came after Senegal’s national team, the Senegal national football team, walked off the pitch in protest over a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco.
The governing body determined that the protest constituted a breach of Articles 82 and 84 of its regulations. As a result, the match was officially recorded as a 3–0 forfeit in favour of the Morocco national football team, effectively handing them the continental title.