Pep Guardiola denied that he "disrespected" Tottenham Hotspur, saying Maurico Pochettino made a "mistake" when criticising him.
Pochettino was upset that Manchester City boss Guardiola referred to Chelsea, Manchester United and the "Harry Kane team" when he was talking about City's Premier League title rivals before the international break.
Spurs boss Pochettino claimed the comment was "ungentlemanly," but Guardiola said he would never be disrespectful about another team.
The City coach told a news conference ahead of the game against Stoke City on Saturday that he had consistently praised the quality of Pochettino's team.
"Maybe my memory is not so well, but I was never disrespectful to my colleague," he said. "I was never disrespectful in a press conference. Never.
"When I talked about Harry Kane's team, it was because Harry Kane was scoring a lot of goals, and I know perfectly that Tottenham are not Harry Kane alone.
"I think that last season, the person who spoke most about appreciating the way Tottenham play was me.
"I said Tottenham are one of the best teams playing. So I'm really disappointed if he said that. I don't know what he said, but I was never disrespectful about my colleagues.
"I respect a lot what Tottenham have done in the last two or three years. There is a lot of credit in the way they play, in the way they are always attacking.
"I've said it many times -- just review what I said. I gave a lot of credit to Tottenham, because last season they finished better than us and that means a lot."
Guardiola added that "maybe I should have said Pochettino's team when I said Harry Kane's team."
But he said: "I said it because Kane scored two goals more against Huddersfield and a goal for the national team and then another goal for the national team.
City's freescoring form this season has not changed manager Guardiola's belief that goals cost money.
City have been outstanding in front of goal this term despite not buying a frontline striker in the summer transfer window, and Guardiola feels there is no substitute for out-and-out quality up front.
He said: "Always I believe that creating chances, creating play, creating good actions is the best way to score goals. Always I believe the way we play is so important.
"But the quality to put the ball in the net you have to buy it. That you cannot teach. I cannot teach Sergio and Gabriel and these guys to score goals, it's talent.
"To take the ball, control it and put it there is a talent and you have to buy it. When you have guys in your squad who can score 20 or 25 goals it's a good advantage."
David Silva has been one of City's most influential players this season with eight assists. The Spaniard is yet to get on the scoresheet, however, and Guardiola feels because of that he is probably not getting due credit.
He said: "David's reputation -- [it is known] throughout the world how good he is. He's a special player, who I like a lot.
"He is intelligent, he is a fighter, a competitor, a winner. He's a guy who has got the quality to keep the ball and play. You have to be so happy because we have him.
"If David had scored in the last games three or four goals he would be highlighted. He would be there, definitely."
Silva, 31, joined City in 2010 and is currently in discussions with the club over an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of next season. Guardiola said: "We would like him to stay until he decides to go."
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