Pep Guardiola was unfazed by Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s quip about Manchester City’s 115 financial charges following the Reds’ 2-0 victory on Sunday.
Slot, speaking at a press conference, joked that Mohamed Salah might know more about City’s future relegation than the rest of us.
“Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 [charges] so he doesn’t expect them to be in the Premier League next season,” Slot remarked. Quickly clarifying, he added, “That was a joke! I do repeat, that was a joke.”
Guardiola, presented with Slot’s comments during his own press conference, played it down. “It was a joke. He said it was a joke, right? It was a joke,” the Spaniard said, keeping his response lighthearted.
The Manchester City boss also addressed his now-famous gesture during Sunday’s game, where he held up six fingers—symbolizing his six Premier League titles—towards fans. Guardiola rejected the notion that it signified frustration amid City’s ongoing winless streak across all competitions.
“We won six, yeah,” he said. “I was never cool. Do you know why I was cool? Because we won. Winning is so cool, so handsome, so nice. When you don’t win, it’s the opposite. But it’s the same.”
The gesture drew comparisons to Jose Mourinho’s three-finger salute during his time as Manchester United manager, which many saw as a sign of decline. Guardiola dismissed such parallels, jokingly noting the difference. “Jose won three, and I’ve won six. We are similar, but also different.”
Amid the jokes and gestures, Guardiola remains focused on proving Manchester City’s resilience as they prepare to host Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, looking to end their seven-game winless run.