Pep Guardiola sarcastically ridiculed Zlatan Ibrahimovic for claiming that the Manchester City manager's ego will hamper Erling Haaland's development.
City are leaving it late before making a decision on whether their 22-goal striker is fit enough to face Fulham on Saturday following a foot injury.
Ibrahimovic - whose relationship with Guardiola is tempestuous after an unsuccessful two-year spell at Barcelona from 2009 - claimed this week that the Catalan could thwart Haaland from reaching his full potential.
Pep Guardiola (pictured) has bitten back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic saying his is too big for City
Ibrahimovic (pictured) had said the Spaniard's ego could stunt Erling Haaland's development
'Is Guardiola able to improve him?