Man City boss Pep Guardiola apologises to Steven Gerrard after recent comments

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised to Steven Gerrard after referencing the former Liverpool midfielder last week.

The Catalan was defending his club after the Premier League charged them with more than 100 breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation.

There have been suggestions that Man City could be stripped of some of their titles if found guilty.

Their manager was having none of it, insisting the Etihad Stadium club were not responsible for Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea in 2014.

Liverpool finished two points behind eventual winners Man City in the league table that season.

The Reds were on course to win the first-ever Premier League title with two weeks to go.

However, a defeat and a draw in two of their last three matches cost them.

Liverpool held a three-point advantage over Man City with three matches to go and faced Chelsea next.

The Blues frustrated Brendan Rodgers’ men and things got worse when Gerrard slipped after trying to retrieve a pass following a poor touch.

Demba Ba pounced on the error to put Jose Mourinho’s side ahead in the eventual 2-0 win.

It has been almost eight years since that incident, but Gerrard keeps getting taunted.

The City boss said last week: “The goal from Sergio Aguero [in 2012] when Balotelli slipped. I don’t know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping at Anfield. Was that our fault?”

He has now apologised today ahead of his press conference for tomorrow’s game against Arsenal.

The Man City boss said: “I apologise to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary stupid comments about him.

“He knows how I admire him and his career, what he has done for this country. I am ashamed of myself, he doesn’t deserve it.

“I truly believe my comments about defending my club, but I didn’t represent my club well by putting his name in these stupid comments.

“I am so sorry to him, his kids, wife, family. It was stupid.”

Liverpool have since won the title, blowing runners-up Man City away in 2019-20 by 18 points.

Gerrard has also moved on from that disappointment and has managed Rangers and Aston Villa.

He is currently out of work after he was sacked by the Midlands club last November.