Raheem Sterling has denied that he intended to disrespect Juan Mata and his Manchester United team-mates during last month’s derby win.
The Manchester City star was performing step-overs by the corner flag in the final moments of the Premier League leaders’ 3-1 win over their neighbours at the Etihad.
That annoyed Mata who immediately confronted the England winger, while Pep Guardiola was quick to show his displeasure upon the final whistle a few moments later.
Sterling insists he wasn’t taking the piss out of United and he wasn’t expecting a reprimand from his manager.
“He [Guardiola] doesn’t want us to disrespect anyone. I was surprised,” Sterling told The Times.
“I was keeping the ball in the corner.
“I can understand if we had lost the ball, and they’d gone down the other end, but I am trying to waste time, attract a foul.
“I wasn’t trying to take the mickey out of them that they have lost. That’s not my thing.
“Juan Mata just said, ‘Show a little bit of respect.’ I wasn’t trying to disrespect them.
“I wouldn’t. I was just trying to keep the ball in the corner and entertain the fans at the same time.”
