Pep Guardiola has accused Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of trying to influence referee Andre Marriner ahead of Wednesday’s Manchester derby.

Solskjaer said Manchester City ‘snap at your ankles and heels and kick you’ and make tactical fouls to stop teams on the break.

Asked if he was worried Solskjaer’s words could influence the referee, Guardiola said: ‘That’s the reason why, of course. I don’t think (it will succeed) because we don’t do that.’

The United manager’s comments added extra spice to Wednesday’s clash Old Trafford, in which a City victory would take them a step closer to becoming the first team in a decade to retain the Premier League.

Solskjaer said: ‘When we win the ball we have got to be ready for their aggression because they will snap at your ankles and heels and kick you.

‘They will not allow us easy counter-attacking. There will be fouls, no doubt about it. They will be stopping us as high as they can, I think.’

The City boss hit back, defending his team’s methods and saying he ‘didn’t like’ Solskjaer’s observations.