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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has hit back at Wayne Rooney's criticism of his players' post-match celebrations against Arsenal, calling the remarks "stupid" and pushing back against suggestions that he has taken the Premier League title race for granted.
While despair gripped London, jubilation filled the Etihad as City secured a well-earned 2–1 victory over the Gunners on Sunday. The win brought Guardiola's men to within three points of the league leaders, with a game in hand still to play. Having been as many as nine points adrift of Mikel Arteta's side earlier this month, City now hold their own destiny in the title race.
The triumphant home side fully embraced the magnitude of the result. Erling Haaland strutted across the Etihad pitch shirtless, his man bun on full display, flashing a knowing smirk toward the camera tracking his every move. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma leapt into the crowd to join the celebrations.
Rooney, a five-time Premier League winner with City's fierce rivals Manchester United, was far from impressed by the scenes.
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City fans 🩵 @donnarumma 🧤 pic.twitter.com/D80t7SxA3P
Offering his analysis as a pundit on BBC's Match of the Day, Rooney described the post-match scenes as "a bit over the top."
"City still have six games to go," he said. "It's clearly a big result. I just think it's a little premature and it could come back to haunt them."
Rooney also backed Arsenal to edge the run-in. "It's obviously going to be tight, but City have one more game to try to win, so I still have Arsenal as slight favorites," the former striker predicted.
"I've been in that position myself, where you need to win every game to claim the title. You look at the fixtures and think you should win this one or that one, but it never quite works out that way. From here to the end of the season, it'll come down to which team keeps their nerve the best—that's who'll lift the trophy."
Guardiola showed a rare flash of irritation when presented with Rooney's remarks.
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"When they celebrated, people can say whatever—stupid things they want to say—they celebrated because they understand the quality of the opposition," Guardiola said sharply.
"They [City's players] knew that if we hadn't won, it would have been 'goodbye.' They won and we're still in it. How could they not celebrate? As much as you respect your opponents and their supporters, celebrate however you like."
"Wait until the end of the season to celebrate? Come on," Guardiola added, clear frustration evident in his tone. "I told them, 'After every single game, go to our fans and enjoy the moment.' What's the point in not living it? Do you only get to celebrate once if you win? And if you don't win, you just suffer the whole time? Come on.
"Everyone knew what that game meant. 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."
Title Race Not Yet Over
Despite City's surge in momentum, Arsenal still control their own fate in the title race. If both clubs win all of their remaining matches—a very real possibility—they would finish level on 85 points, leaving goal difference, and potentially goals scored, to decide the champion.
"Arsenal are top of the league, and right now they will be champions," Guardiola acknowledged ahead of Wednesday's fixture against Burnley. "We have six games left—I don't know what will happen."