Pep Guardiola has suggested Jürgen Klopp was making “excuses” for Liverpool’s faltering title defence by wrongly suggesting Manchester City had two weeks off as a result of the postponement of their match at Everton on 28 December.
City’s trip to Goodison Park was called off after the Manchester club reported some players had had contact with someone who had tested positive for Covid. On Friday Klopp claimed this allowed Guardiola’s side a fortnight’s break before playing Chelsea on 3 January. However, City had played on 26 December and had only 28 December itself and the next day, planned for recovery, off as a result of the postponement.
Liverpool have lost their last two home games and are seven points behind City, having played a match more, as Guardiola’s side travel to Anfield on Sunday. The City manager has said that when Barcelona head coach he did not like to moan as this could be perceived as weakness and he was asked if he viewed Klopp’s complaint that way.
“It’s finding excuses [to moan],” he said. “When I complain to my players or when you complain, you find an excuse and when you have excuses you cannot move forward. Excuses are the worst in the world in football, in sport. So I’m not judging what the other managers said but the comment, what Jürgen said – “two weeks off” – the purpose I don’t know. You have to ask him. Or I will ask him on Sunday the reason why he is saying that.
“Sometimes we do it [say something strange] when it can be difficult for managers right after a game. Five minutes later you are so excited for a good thing or bad thing – it’s not easy for us. But when we are relaxed in [a pre-match] press conference and say something to [provoke]: I never did it.
“Well, I did it maybe once or twice for an exceptional reason but to [provoke]. Only I am concerned about the game, what we have to do to beat the opponents. From my lessons in football – finding an excuse: you cannot move forward, and sometimes I did it, I have to admit it, but it was a mistake for sure.”