Pep Guardiola dismisses ‘stupid’ criticism of Man City post-match celebrations

Pep Guardiola has defended his Manchester City players against “stupid” criticism of their post-match celebrations following Sunday’s victory over Arsenal.

City will go to Burnley on Wednesday night with the opportunity to go top of the Premier League after beating the Gunners 2-1 in what was effectively a ‘must-win’ game to keep themselves in the title race.

There were exuberant scenes at the final whistle – Gianluigi Donnarumma leapt into the crowd behind his goal and supporters unfurled a banner which read ‘Panic on the streets of London’, quoting The Smiths, as Arsenal feel the pressure.

Erling Haaland, scorer of the winning goal, pulled off his shirt before soaking up the adulation on the now usual post-match lap of appreciation.

On Match of the Day, former England captain Wayne Rooney described the scenes as “a little bit over the top”, saying it was “premature and might come back to bite them”, and Danny Murphy said the celebrations “looked a bit excessive, like they had already won it”.

Guardiola dismissed City’s critics.

“People can say whatever stupid things they want to say,” he said. “They celebrated because they know the value of the opponent. They knew if we didn’t win it would be, ‘Bye bye’ (in title race).

“They won and we are still there. How can they not celebrate it? As much as you respect the opponent and the fans of the opponent, celebrate however you want.

“Wait until the end of the season to celebrate? Come on. I said to them, ‘Every single game, go to our fans and enjoy the moment’. What sense is not to live it? You have to celebrate just once if you win? And if you don’t win you cry all the time? Come on.

“Of course we are not going to celebrate it in the middle of the week if we win 3-0 or 4-0 and the opponents are different. Everybody knew that game. It was a final. Especially for us. Maybe not for them but for us it was a final and of course you have to celebrate it.”

Sunday’s win has set up a potentially thrilling end to the campaign. If both City and Arsenal win their remaining games, the title would be decided by goal difference, goals scored, or even the head-to-head record, with City holding the advantage in the latter.

While there has been a huge amount of discussion about the pressure Arsenal may be feeling, Guardiola – who has won six of his 12 league titles as a manager with City – insisted he is “more relaxed than ever”.

Nerves, he said, came last term when he struggled to find a winning formula.

“Nervous was last season,” he said. “Pressure was last season. I could bring, as a manager, the team not in the Champions League. Now, I’m more relaxed than ever, even before Arsenal.

“The feeling is that we have done a really, really good season. Now is the moment to enjoy more than ever…

“The message is so clear. It’s not even a message. They know it. And no, no, it’s completely, completely the opposite (of nervous).”