Pep Guardiola has dismissed claims about Manchester City’s win over Liverpool.
Last week’s clash at the Etihad Stadium saw the reigning Premier League champions cut the gap with the Reds at the summit down to just four points.
Some fans of Jurgen Klopp’s side theorised that City had allowed their playing surface to be cut above the usual level in order to stifle the visitors’ game plan.
However Guardiola refuted suggestions on Tuesday that he had played any part in unduly influencing proceedings in the game, where City ran out 2-1 winners.
He said: “I am not the groundskeeper. If Liverpool want to play quick, we want to play quicker.
“Never we manipulated it, always we try to put water (on the pitch) but it’s not necessary here with the weather, it rains a lot.
“We want to cut the field all the time, all my career, 10 years as a manager. The better conditions for both teams, I never put in some trick about this.
“Always when you do this, karma or something punishes you. You have to do the best for the opponents, for the game, respect the game and the rules.
“I never speak with the groundsmen…how many issues do I have in my head to think about the pitch? I trust the groundsmen.
“I never made a phone call to say ‘do this to damage our opponents’.”