Erling Haaland attacked Roy Keane after scoring four goals to tighten Manchester City’s grip on the Premier League title race.
Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth had increased the pressure on City before Guardiola’s side defeated Wolves 5-1, leaving them a point behind with a game in hand.
Haaland, whose performance has drawn criticism this season, took his league tally to 25 in the race for the golden boot.
Keane’s incendiary comments, when he described the Norwegian’s overall game as that of a League Two striker, have irritated Haaland’s family.
“I don’t really care that much about that guy, so it’s okay,” Haaland said. “I don’t care, we just have to win our games and now relax tonight and focus on Fulham.”
Erling Haaland hit back at Roy Keane after scoring four goals against Wolves on Sunday.
Keane described the Norwegian’s overall game as that of a League Two striker.
After the draw against Arsenal, Keane said: “The levels of his overall play are so poor, and not just today, that I think his general attacks, his headers or whatever in terms of in front of goal are the best in the world.
“But his overall game for a player like that is so poor, not just today, that I think he has to improve to make him almost like a League Two player.”
“That’s how I see it: His overall game has to improve and that’s how it will be for years to come.” There have been brilliant and fantastic forwards. But he has to improve his game in every way.”
Keane then revised his comments after Haaland scored on his return from injury against Nottingham Forest last week.
The former Manchester United midfielder joked: “He was very much like a Championship player, he’s improved a lot.” As a scorer he is absolutely spectacular, there is no doubt about his quality in terms of finishing.
“When he comes in, he will want to have an impact on the game and when he stretches like that, he will have people like (Kevin) De Bruyne, he will find you and then it will be that bit of sharpness that he has shown.”
Guardiola declared that Haaland is back to his best and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was watching the Etihad demolition at home with his family.
“Erling is back in business,” Guardiola said. ‘Penalties are a guarantee (for him), but the second and fourth were incredible.
“The 20 minutes he (Haaland) played against Nottingham Forest were really good and today too.
“It is not possible to win the title on goal difference, so we cannot draw a game. The way Arsenal have been playing has been very good and consistent.
‘There are three games, I hope we win the first and the second and reach the third with destiny in our hands.
‘With nine points we will be champions. “If there are seven, six or three points, Arsenal will win the Premier League.”
Guardiola also revealed why Haaland was frustrated when he was later substituted, adding: “I was frustrated with the referee. With long balls he sometimes gets pushed and pulled.
Guardiola declared that Haaland is back to his best level after returning from injury last week
The Norwegian looks set to win the Premier League Golden Boot for the second consecutive season.
‘He fell and sometimes it wasn’t a foul. It happens many times in each game. “I was a little frustrated by these actions, but I can guarantee how happy I was today.”
Despite not reaching last season’s high of 52 goals that he recorded last season, Haaland has had a successful year, scoring 36 goals in 41 games in all competitions.
The 23-year-old looks set to win the Premier League Golden Boot for the second consecutive season having scored 25 goals with three games remaining in the domestic campaign.
Meanwhile, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil called the decision to award City’s first penalty, a meeting between Josko Gvardiol and Rayan Ait-Nouri, “terrible” but admitted: “The story is that the “Manchester City were excellent.” The officials have not cost us anything.’
