Pep Guardiola has branded Wayne Rooney’s criticism of Manchester City’s celebrations after beating Arsenal as ‘stupid’.
Erling Haaland’s winner sparked wild scenes at the Etihad Stadium and City will go top of the Premier League if they beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night.
Gianluigi Donnarumma leapt into the crowd, Guardiola’s staff ran on the pitch and a bare-chested Haaland swirled his jersey over his head following the dramatic 2-1 win against Mikel Arteta’s side.
Rooney claimed the raucous celebrations were ‘a bit over the top’ on Match of the Day as fellow pundit Danny Murphy agreed that they ‘felt a bit much’.
Guardiola chose to hit back at those comments unprompted, albeit without naming Rooney directly, insisting that the magnitude of the fixture made Sunday more emotional.
‘People can say whatever – stupid things they want to say – they celebrated because they know the value of the opponent,’ said the City boss.
Man City’s celebrations after beating Arsenal have been defended by Pep Guardiola
Guardiola branded Wayne Rooney’s criticism of the celebrations as ‘stupid’ as he insisted the celebrations were due to the magnitude of the match against their title rivals
‘They knew if we didn’t win it would be “bye bye”. 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. 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.’
City have embarked on a lap of appreciation around the Etihad for every single game this season, whatever the result.
Murphy expressed surprise at what he deemed over-zealous post-match scenes and added that ‘it seemed like they were celebrating the title’.
But Guardiola is fundamentally opposed to that idea and wants his players to embrace the occasions as they hunt down a seventh title in nine years.
‘What sense is there not to live it?’ he said. ‘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 opponent is 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.’
