I don’t have much respect for them off the pitch – Pep Guardiola slams Arsenal

I don’t have much respect for them off the pitch – Pep Guardiola slams Arsenal

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has slammed Arsenal by saying he doesn’t have much respect for the team off the pitch.

Guardiola’s team lost to his former assistant Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal 2-0 in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday as Man City suffered their first domestic cup defeat in more than two-and-a-half years.

Guardiola’s statement could be as a result of reports that Arsenal was part of a group of Premier League clubs that wrote to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) asking them to refuse any attempt from Manchester City to delay a two-year Champions League ban.

“We didn’t play the first half against Arsenal like the second, that was the only regret. We wanted to play 90 minutes like the second half,” Guardiola told reporters

“But, after we were beaten, we shake hands. The opponents always deserve my respect and credit. And Arsenal, I have all the respect for what they are on the pitch, not much off the pitch – but on the pitch, a lot. Congratulations to them and good luck in the final.”