Manchester City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola, has responded to criticisms regarding his hand gesture to the fans during their clash with Liverpool at Anfield on December 1, 2024.
According to him, his six-finger gesture was not meant to signal an end to his era as Manchester City coach, as claimed, but rather the number of EPL titles he has won.
The Spaniard further dismissed comparisons between himself and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho regarding their stints in the English Premier League.
Speaking to the media ahead of Manchester City’s game against Nottingham Forest, Guardiola reiterated that he has won six Premier League titles, while Mourinho has won fewer.
“I hope not in my case [his domination in the EPL coming to an end like Mourinho]. In the end, maybe I am quite similar to Jose. He won three, and I won six [Premier League titles],” he said.
The criticism comes after Guardiola pointed to his six-finger gesture to the Liverpool supporters while they were taunting him.
The former Barcelona manager noted that the fans singing ‘you are getting sacked in the morning’ did not sit well with him, which led to the response.
Manchester City has been struggling in the 2024/25 Premier League season. After thirteen matches played, they have recorded seven wins, two draws, and four defeats.
The team lies fifth on the league table with 23 points, trailing leaders Liverpool by eleven points.
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