Pep Guardiola Responds To Diego Simeone Over Intelligent Remarks. It’s understandable that after such a tight match in such a critical circumstance, emotional responses prevailed after Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid.

Not only did the players’ scuffles demand the intervention of the cops after the game, but Diego Simeone added to the flames.

The Argentine manager didn’t specifically mention Pep Guardiola, but he did accuse his counterpart of ‘praising [him] with disrespect.’

Guardiola was adamant about avoiding being labeled as such. He had this to say about Simeone in his own post-match press conference.

“I have only ever had good words to say about him. He can play however he wants, of course. I would never say otherwise. All I said was that it is very hard. And they know how to do that better than anyone in the world.”

“Don’t be mistaken, I never criticized Atlético,” said Guardiola pointedly. ”

Moving on to analysis of the actual football, which at times seemed lost on the night, Guardiola was content just to make it through. Their hosts had increased the pressure in the final stages of the match. The Guardian recorded his responses.

‘I never criticised Atlético,’ insists Pep Guardiola after City advance to last four. By @sidlowe #UCL #MCFC https://t.co/xCUocWap6o

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) April 13, 2022

“They pushed us back, we forgot how to play. That’s to their credit. We’re celebrating going through but after that second half, we could be out. We were in big, big trouble. They had chances to score, but they didn’t in the end.”