Pep Guardiola issues a public apology to Steven Gerrard over ‘unnecessary and stupid comments’

The City boss asked hypothetically if City should also be blamed for Gerrard’s misfortune in 2014, which led to a Chelsea goal and victory which handed the Manchester side the initiative in a tight title run-in.

The incident was sung about by City fans as they responded to Guardiola’s rallying cry by producing a raucous atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium for the 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Ahead of the top-of-the-table Premier League clash with Arsenal on Wednesday, Guardiola said: “I apologise 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 and what he has done for this country I am living and training in.

“I am ashamed of myself for what I said because he doesn’t deserve it. I truly believe my comments about defending my club but I didn’t represent my club well putting his name in these stupid comments.

“I apologise, I said to him personally but I commented publicly and have to do it here as well. I am so sorry to him, his wife Alex, his kids and family because it was stupid.”

Erling Haaland remains a doubt for City’s trip to the Emirates Stadium.

The Premier League’s top scorer was substituted at half-time after taking a knock against Villa.

The Norwegian, who has scored 25 goals in the competition this season, took part in a recovery session on Monday but needs further assessment ahead of the top-of-the-table encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Guardiola said: “We will train this afternoon, right now I don’t know. Yesterday was a recovery from the game against Aston Villa and that’s all.”