Jamie Carragher quickly reacts after Pep Guardiola calls him out over his comments on Erling Haaland.

Jamie Carragher responded on social media after Pep Guardiola was questioned about the former Liverpool defender’s recent comments on Erling Haaland.

On Wednesday night, Carragher had questioned why Haaland wasn’t selected to start Manchester City’s Champions League match against Real Madrid. Speaking on CBS Sports, he jokingly suggested Haaland might have avoided playing due to facing Antonio Rüdiger, calling it “Rudiger-itis.”

Haaland’s absence was felt as Kylian Mbappé netted a hat-trick in Madrid’s 3-1 win, securing a 6-3 aggregate victory to advance to the round of 16.

Ahead of City’s Premier League clash with Liverpool, Guardiola was asked about Carragher’s remarks. He responded: “Oh, God. Did he say that? Jamie Carragher said that? Oh God. Don’t laugh. I don’t know why he makes it sound so suspicious. Did he say Haaland didn’t want to play? It’s not nice—and it’s not true. He was desperate to play but had a knee problem.”

As Guardiola’s reaction went viral, Carragher quickly responded, criticizing the journalist who posed the question and insisting his comments were meant as a joke.

He wrote: “It was a joke to wind up Micah Richards, as that’s the nature of our show on CBS. And you know that, @MullockSMirror, but you just thought, ‘Let’s get a big headline for my piece!’ Typical Sunday papers!!!”

Simon Mullock fired back, saying: “I’ve watched it again. It doesn’t sound like a joke. For a start, no one laughed. There were also other reporters in the room, and none suggested it was a joke.”

Carragher replied: “In the room with reporters?? It was on TV. My jokes don’t always land! But we both know I was winding Micah up & you’ve seen a chance to get a headline. Just admit it.”