Pep Guardiola caused a stir on the weekend when he accused Liverpool forward Sadio Mane of being a 'diver'.

The Senegalese international was booked for simulation against Aston Villa after going down in the box, although there did appear to be contact.

And the former Barcelona manager was not happy with how Mane goes to ground.

“We arrived in the locker room it was 1-1, then it was 1-2. It has happened many times, what Liverpool has done in the last years, it’s because it’s a special talent," he said.

“Sometimes it’s diving, sometimes it is this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute. He’s a talent.”

Mane has now responded and he's accused Guardiola of getting the attention of the referee before their game on the weekend.

“It’s a bit clever from him to get the attention of the referee but I will just play my football,” he said, per the Mirror. “I don’t pay attention to what he’s saying because it’s part of football.

“Even though I saw him commenting about it, what he said, for me, I think it’s positive.

“The only thing I can say I will be ready for the team, to give everything possible, and to help my team.”

Mane then joked he would dive again if that would mean his side get a penalty.

"If it could be a penalty for sure I will 'dive' again," he added. "If the dive will give me a penalty then I will do it to get it back! Why not? But what Jurgen said is correct. I do not dive."

Mane also insisted his booking against Aston Villa was not a dive.

“There was contact for sure,” he said. “Maybe it was not a penalty and he didn’t give it, and he gave me a yellow card. I don’t have any problem about it.

“It can happen in football and we have seen many ­people, some diving and get penalties, some got a ­penalty and the referee didn’t give it. You have to deal with it.

“If I get a penalty, yeah it’s a penalty. If no penalty, no penalty, but it will never change the way I’m playing or the way I’m doing my things.”