Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised to former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard for bizarrely mocking his infamous slip against Chelsea in April 2014.
Speaking on Friday, just days after the Citizens had been accused of breaching over 100 Premier League regulations, with many relating to their financial accounts between 2009 and 2018, Guardiola launched a staunch defence of Manchester City and the legitimacy of their achievements in the English game over the last decade.
The Spaniard then appeared to mock Gerrard and his unfortunate mistake in the 2-0 Premier League defeat to Jose Mourinho's side in April 2014, rhetorically asking if City were to blame. The Reds skipper, placed on the halfway line, received the ball from team-mate Mamadou Sakho before losing his footing where Demba Ba would profit and subsequently hand Chelsea the lead. It's a moment that is largely viewed as having cost the Reds their first league title success in 25 years.
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"I don’t know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping at Anfield," said Guardiola at the City's training ground on Friday. "Was that our fault? I have respect for Steven Gerrard - but that moment belongs to us.
“The moments that we lived these years together, the Premier League will decide…but I know what we won and the way we won it. I know the effort we put in. If something happened in 2009 or 2010 it is not going to change one second.”
However, speaking ahead of the Citizens' trip to North London to face top-of-the-table Arsenal on Wednesday, the City boss today issued an apology to the former Liverpool and England midfielder and revealed he had in fact already contacted Gerrard following his "stupid comments".
"I apologise to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary and stupid comments I said last time," the 52-year-old to reporters on Tuesday. "He knows I admire him. I am ashamed of myself for what I said because he doesn't deserve it. I didn't represent my club well. I said it to him personally."
He added: "I truly believe my comments about defending my club but I didn't represent my club well putting his name in these stupid comments. I am so sorry to him, his kids, wife, family. It was stupid."
Having lost 2-0 to Chelsea, Liverpool would draw 3-3 with Crystal Palace the following week, despite being three goals ahead, which would prove to be the final nail in the coffin of the club's title hopes and result in Manuel Pellegrini's side claiming their second Premier League triumph.
The Premier League's findings after a four-year investigation will now be presented in front of an independent commission, which will decide if Manchester City will face further punishment.
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