Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has said that he has no respect for Arsenal football club over their activities off the pitch.
The former Bayern Munich boss stated this indirectly during a press conference ahead of their meeting with Watford in the Premier League today.
Guardiola’s comment is believed to be related to Arsenal’s conduct this season. The first was their approach for his former assistant, Mikel Arteta in December, who eventually left the Etihad for Emirate.
City hierarchy is also suspecting Arsenal’s role in a letter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport during their appeal over the two-year European ban handed down by UEFA.
Speaking, Guardiola said he likes Arteta’s team that outsted his in the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday, although, pulled no punches in his assessment of other areas of his former assistant’s club.
“After we were beaten we shake hands. The opponents always deserve my respect and credit. And Arsenal, I have all the respect for what they are on the pitch, not much off the pitch — but on the pitch, a lot. Congratulations to them and good luck in the final.”
Pep Guardiola wants to see the real Manchester City as they look forward to bounce back against Watford
After their ouster from the FA Cup, their focus will shift to their remaining Premier League games.
They will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Arsenal ahead of their visit to Vicarage Road in their penultimate Premier League game of the season.
City will complete their Premier League season with a home game against already relegated Norwich on Sunday before a Champions League date with Real Madrid on Aug. 7.
Although they have nothing else to play for in the league after cementing the second spot, Guardiola doesn’t want his players to let up.
“Watford and Norwich can beat us but I want us to be who we are.
“Our game, who we are, with and without the ball, we are good when we go full gas, no fear, it doesn’t matter what happens and we play. That’s what we have to take from these two games.
“I said after Arsenal, we didn’t play the first half against Arsenal like the second. That was the only regret. We wanted to play 90 minutes like the second half.”
