Pep Guardiola hits back at 'stupid' Man City celebration police - 'Cry all the time'

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was not impressed by criticism of the team celebrations against Arsenal

Pep Guardiola hit back at 'stupid' criticism of his Manchester City team celebrating one of their biggest wins of the season. Players and staff did not hide their delight on Sunday after beating Arsenal, with Gianluigi Donnarumma jumping into the crowd and Erling Haaland singing into the camera before all embarked on their usual lap of appreciation around the Etihad.

The scenes came in for criticism, with Wayne Rooney on the BBC saying they were 'over the top', 'premature' and 'may come back to bite them'. It has since been suggested that Arsenal can use City's celebrations as motivation to beat them in the title race.

Guardiola was not asked about the reaction to his team's celebrations in his press conference ahead of Burnley but brought them up anyway, pointing out how he wants his players to recognise the good things that they do and always appreciate the supporters. City's manager said their reaction may be different if they beat Burnley in midweek but the occasion and achievement of Sunday's victory over Arsenal merited their response.

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"When I’m on the sidelines and seeing how Arsenal is playing, I give give incredible credit. They are a top team, a contender to win the Champions League and top of the Premier League. I see that game and we had to sweat and fight to beat them because they have everything. So so competitive, their mentality and many, many things that they do well. They play short, they play well," he said.

"They play long ball, they win the second ball. Set-pieces. It’s a nightmare. I give a lot of credit to compete with them and against them and the last two times beat them. I give a lot of credit to these players, they know it and feel it.

"People can say whatever stupid things they want to say - they celebrated because they know the value of the opponent. They knew if we didn’t win it would be ‘bye bye’. They won and still we are there. How can they not celebrate it?

"As much as you respect the opponent and the fans of the opponent, celebrate however you want. Wait until the end of the season to celebrate? Come on. I said to them ‘every single game go to our fans’ and enjoy the moment. What sense is not to live it? You have to celebrate just once if you win? And if you don’t win you cry all the time? Come on.

"Of course we are not going to celebrate it in the middle of the week if we win 3-0 or 4-0 and the opponent are different. Everybody knew that game. It was a final. Especially for us. Maybe not for them but for us it was a final and of course you have to celebrate it."