During Manchester City’s recent match against Liverpool, Pep Guardiola was caught on camera celebrating in the direction of Kostas Tsimikas, the Liverpool substitute who was warming up on the sidelines.
This unusual interaction prompted some to wonder what was said between the two. Fortunately, Guardiola has since shed some light on the matter and revealed the words he spoke to Tsimikas at that moment.
Guardiola celebrating right in front of Kostas Tsimikas.. 🥴 pic.twitter.com/GJTxIW6DrF
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) April 1, 2023
Guardiola casually shaking Arthur’s hand after City’s equaliser! 😂🤣pic.twitter.com/Z5oVCkEtG1
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 1, 2023
What Guardiola said to Tsimikas
After the match, Pep Guardiola was asked about his exchange with Kostas Tsimikas and Arthur Melo, and he responded to suggestions that his behavior was disrespectful towards the Liverpool players. The Spaniard wasn’t impressed with these insinuations and defended his actions.
“I was happy and I said, ‘How nice was our goal?’” the Spaniard said. “That’s all. Of course (it was an attempt at humour). Come on.
“No, come on. I am so sorry. I speak with Tsimikas. You people say it is a lack of respect. Ask him if I lack respect.
“I celebrate a goal. Normally I celebrate with my son on the floor. I come here and said, ‘The goal was nice, wasn’t it?’
“That’s all. I’m so sorry. You think it was a lack of respect? Ah okay, sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Ask him if I lack respect” 😤
A frustrated Pep Guardiola doesn’t think he showed Kostas Tsimikas a lack of respect by celebrating in front of him during Man City’s win over Liverpool ❌ pic.twitter.com/IsmGGVpHSa
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 1, 2023
Following Manchester City’s win over Liverpool, they closed the gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just five points.
However, Arsenal have a chance to increase their lead again to eight points if they manage to beat Leeds at home at 3 pm.
Pep Guardiola was pleased with his team’s performance and described it as ‘almost perfect’ after the match.
Guardiola: Man City were ‘almost perfect’
“Our display was almost perfect from the first minute to 93 in the way we played against a team who was our biggest rival in the last few seasons,” Guardiola said.
“We always struggled to find a way to play in the quality they have, the way they press and against the transitions they have.
“All of them, start from Ederson, finish with Jack, were really good.”
Grealish: We responded brilliantly
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish, who earned the Man of the Match award for his stunning performance, was pleased with City’s response after going 1-0 down.
“We knew it would be a tough game playing against Liverpool. The first game after the break is always difficult,” Grealish admitted.
“We wanted to start this last period of the season right. I thought we started the game well, and Liverpool are so dangerous with the players they have up front.
“So we went one goal down, then you fear the worst and think it’ll be a tough game to get back into.
“But I thought we responded brilliantly. I thought we were excellent, especially in the second half.”