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.'
Pep Guardiola criticised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for trying to influence the referee for the derby
Manchester United boss Solskjaer believes City will take a physical approach at Old Trafford
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.
The Norwegian described United as an aggressive side that 'will snap at your ankles and heels'
Guardiola flatly rejected any notion that he tells his squad to scythe down opponents on the counter and questioned Solskjaer's motives for raising the point. 'Did he say that?' Guardiola asked.
'So we are going to make fouls on them? I don't like it (Solskjaer's comments). I don't like it. No. My team is not built for that, not at all.'
Solskjaer elaborated on City's apparent ploy of fouling the opposition high up the pitch as part of their pressing game.
'You don't get the yellow cards (for that), do you?' the Norwegian said.
'But that's just because they commit so many players forward and you can clearly see that they've got them in that mould of trying to win the ball back, and they do make fouls. It's up
