Pep Guardiola has been referred to as a gentleman by the fans and his critics after the Spaniard apologized for the ‘stupid comments’ he made against former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard during the press conference before Manchester City’s game against Aston Villa.
Pep had made a jibe at Gerrard for his infamous slip in 2014 that cost Liverpool their first Premier League title at the time. Pep made fun of it after he was questioned whether the PL titles will be stripped from City after the Premier League charged them with various financial breaches.
Pep had said: “The moment from Sergio Aguero, with Balotelli slipping him in. I don’t know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping. In that situation at Anfield I didn’t want that, for respect for Steven Gerrard, but is it our fault?”
Liverpool was the frontrunner in the 2013-14 Premier League race but Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea cost the Merseyside club and City won the title. Pep recently apologized for his unnecessary comments against Gerrard and said that he had massive respect for the player.
Pep Guardiola: “It’s our fault Steven Gerrard slipped at Anfield” 🔵 #MCFC
🎥 @BeanymanSportspic.twitter.com/azZKNdu6s0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 11, 2023
He said: “I apologize to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary and stupid comments I said the last time about him, He knows how I admire him and his career, what he has done for this country that I am living and training in.”
Pep further stated that he was ashamed of himself for making such comments and said that he had apologized to the former Aston Villa manager personally but wanted to apologize to Gerrard and his family publicly.
“I’m ashamed of myself, what I said because he doesn’t deserve it. So, I apologize and I said it to him personally. But like I comment publicly, I have to do it here as well. So I am so sorry to him, his wife, kids, and family, because it was stupid.” He added, admitting to his mistake.
Fans react to Pep Guardiola’s apology to Steven Gerrard
Fans can’t stop talking about Pep ever since he apologized to Stevie G, we took a look at what some of the fans said:
A fan seemed to be very impressed with Pep for apologizing to Steven Gerrard and believed that Pep had shown that he was a gentleman after accepting his mistake and apologizing like a gentleman.
🗣️ “I apologise to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary and stupid comment I said. He knows how I admire him and his career. I am ashamed of myself for what I said.”
Pep Guardiola opens up his presser by apologising to Steven Gerrard for his comments about him. pic.twitter.com/xq3QyGexeE
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 14, 2023
They wrote: “Now thats how gentlemen apologize”.
Another fan was also full of appreciation for the former Barcelona player and manager and said that Pep always knows when he has messed up in the past and doesn’t shy away from it and rather apologizes for his mistakes.
They said: “I love Pep because of this, one day he speaks funny and true, and next time he is apologizing.”
It seems that fans loved Pep’s gesture with an apology to Steven Gerrard. Pep will still be in a spot of turmoil over the next few months as his club Manchester City face financial breach charges and it will be interesting to see how many times Pep might have to apologize again for the alleged Manchester City breaches.
