THE NASTY NEIGHBOURS
Pep angrily hits back at Ole as United boss claims City go out to deliberately foul opponents
PEP GUARDIOLA has accused Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of trying to influence the referee ahead of tonight’s Manchester derby.
The United boss claimed City are guilty of ‘tactical’ fouling and warned whistler Andre Marriner to be alert to it when the two sides meet at Old Trafford.
Guardiola hit back by insisting Solskjaer is trying to get into Marriner’s head before the clash that will have a huge impact on the title race and top-four battle.
The war of words continued with Guardiola responding angrily to Solskjaer’s claims – and he is adamant he never sends his side out to deliberately foul opponents.
When told of Solskjaer’s comments, Guardiola said: “Did he say that? With an average of 65 or 70 per cent with the ball, how do you do that?
“I don’t like it. My team is not built to think and create for that at all. In 10 seasons as a manager, I never prepared for a game thinking about these kind of things.
“Never have I said to one player to make fouls to avoid something for the other ones.”
And when asked if Solskjaer’s comments could influence Marriner, Guardiola said: “That’s the reason why, of course.”
Solskjaer had earlier warned Marriner to watch out for City’s perceived fouling, claiming Guardiola’s side do not get the yellow cards they should.
The United gaffer said: “We’ve got to be ready for their aggression because they will snap at your ankles and heels and kick you.
“They’re not going to allow us easy counter-attacking because there will be fouls.
“When you watch those games, they commit so many players forward and will be stopping us as high as they can. But you don’t get the yellow cards, do you?
“That’s just because they commit so many players forward and you can see they’ve got them in that mould of trying to win the ball back and they do make fouls. It’s not my decision, it’s the referee’s responsibility.”
Despite Solskjaer’s claim, United have received 64 yellow cards in the Premier League this season compared to City’s 38.
United have four red cards to City’s one, while Solskjaer’s side have committed 395 fouls to Guardiola’s side’s 291. Meanwhile, the City boss reckons his side are no longer daunted by going to Old Trafford. Guardiola said: “This club in the last decade grew and it’s not scary to go there now.”