Manchester United vs Man City: War of words erupts between Solskjaer and Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has reacted angrily to suggestions from opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that his Manchester City team are guilty of “tactical” fouling on a regular basis.

The United manager, talking before Wednesday’s crucial derby meeting at Old Trafford, referred to City’s habit of fouling high up the field, to stop opponents counter attacking.

But Guardiola did not take kindly to that analysis and appeared to accuse Solskjaer of trying to influence tonight’s referee, Andre Marriner, with his comments.

‘I know what I said’

“That’s the reason why, of course,” said Guardiola when asked if he was concerned that the comments might be intended to influence the referee.

“I know exactly what I said to my players from day one to the last day.

“So when a player wants to attack, we have to be honest and, of course, there is contact, there are fouls.

“But when it happens and you arrive late, that is why there are referees – to make yellow cards or red cards or whatever they decide, but never have I prepared a game [to do it].

“But never. I prepare the game to do our own game, that is what I want, knowing of course the opponent, but I never said I’m going to do that to punish them or cancel them, making fouls. Never.”

Growing intensity

With City’s bid for a first-ever treble in English men’s football potentially on the line, the disagreement between the rival managers has merely added to the intensity and pressure swirling around the game.

“That’s just because they commit so many players forward and you can clearly see that they’ve got them in that mould of trying to win the ball back, and they do make fouls,” said Solskjaer earlier.

“We have got to be ready for the press, for their pressing, we have got to be ready for their aggression, because they will snap at your ankles and heels and kick you.

“They are not going to allow us easy counter attacking because there will be fouls.

“I have absolutely no doubt about it because when you watch those games they commit so many players forward and they will be stopping us as high as they can I think.”