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Pep Guardiola has claims that he once cold-shouldered Roy Hodgson after losing to the former Crystal Palace manager.
Hodgson, whose side face Guardiola’s Manchester City on Saturday, said he was snubbed by the Spaniard after his Crystal Palace side won 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium in 2018.
However, Guardiola has refuted the statements and argued that he is ‘always correct’ with his opponents.
Pep Guardiola (left) has denied Roy Hodgson’s claims over cold-shouldering the Watford boss
Former England manager Hodgson spoke of how a win for his relegation-threatened Hornets this weekend could derail City’s title quest – and damage his relationship further with Guardiola.
Hodgson said: ‘Pep didn’t speak to me for a long while after Palace managed to steal a win up there and, if we get a win this time, he will probably never speak to me again!’
In stark contrast, Guardiola claims that never happened and assumes Hodgson must have been speaking with his tongue in his cheek.
The City boss said: ‘It’s not true. When I lose I am always correct with my opponents and always I talk. We don’t invite for the traditional wine glass, but it’s not true.
Guardiola has refuted Hodgson’s claims and thinks that the former Palace boss was joking
‘He beat me, he celebrated and I congratulated him. That’s all. Why should I not be friends for winning or losing?
‘You are more happy when you win and more sad when you lose but the relation is always the same. I’m pretty sure it was a joke.’
City head into Saturday’s game with a one-point advantage at the top of the table and with a chance to extend that to four points ahead of second-placed Liverpool’s clash with Everton on Sunday.
On the other hand, Watford are in serious danger of making an immediate return to the Championship but Guardiola is not assuming it will be a straightforward encounter.
The two managers embrace ahead of the game between Crystal Palace and Man City in 2018
Guardiola said: ‘Roy Hodgson has incredible experience. With Crystal Palace we always struggled to break them down, to do good games.
‘Except for four or five games they would be in the middle of the table.
‘Everyone plays for some targets – to be champions, qualification for Champions League, Europa League, not to be relegated. Every game has its importance.
‘Watford, when you analyse, have quality, especially the physicality they have in the middle and up front.
‘But we know what we have to do – be ourselves and try to get three more points.’
Hodgson recalls the 2018 fixture at the Etihad during his tenure as Crystal Palace boss
Source: DailyMail Sports
