Pep Guardiola violated Jose Mourinho in an unprovoked attack in his press conference ahead of Manchester City's visit of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Guardiola spoke to the media following on from a fourth consecutive defeat in the Premier League at the hands of league leaders Liverpool on Sunday and was asked about his gesture to the home fans.
After receiving chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" in the second half of the 2-0 defeat, Guardiola responded by showing six fingers to the Anfield crowd - referencing how many Premier League titles he has won with City.
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Guardiola said he "didn't expect" the chant from Anfield and that was why he proceeded to respond in such a manner. The Catalan, who also did the gesture to City's travelling fans at the end of the game, was asked if his antics showed that he was "losing his cool".
“I was never cool,” Guardiola responded.
“I was only cool because we won. When you don’t win, it’s completely the opposite.”
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Guardiola's defiant behaviour evoked memories of his former rival Mourinho, who infamously held up three fingers to remind people that he won three Premier League titles with Chelsea and deserved more "respect".
It came during his spell in charge of Manchester United and it was put to Guardiola that he too could be at "the beginning of the end". He then aimed a little dig at Mourinho, mentioning the fact that he has two times the amount of Premier League titles as he provided a further explanation.
He added: "I hope not in my case... He won three, I won six.. but we are the same like that. We are together in the those situations. To make our fans know that we are much, much better than the people that sing that [Liverpool fans singing sacked in the morning]".
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“It [the gesture] 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.”
Reigning champions City find themselves in fifth place in the Premier League after an unprecedented slump, 11 points behind Liverpool. They are one point and one place above next opponents Forest, who they host at the Etihad in a 19:30 kick-off.
Topics: Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United
Josh Lawless