Guardiola claims Benjamin Mendy was one of many to break Covid-19 rules

Pep Guardiola claimed Benjamin Mendy did what many people did on New Year's Eve after the defender broke UK lockdown rules - but insisted he is not trying to justify the Frenchman's actions.

Mendy admitted over the weekend that he broke the Covid-19 restrictions last week by throwing a New Year's Eve dinner party with people from his household.

Manchester City manager Guardiola selected Mendy in his matchday squad for Sunday's victory over Chelsea but claimed the move was not a sign that he was trying to justify the footballers' wrongdoings.

Guardiola told his post-match press conference at Stamford Bridge: 'I'm not justifying it. He broke the rules. He cannot do it. Absolutely not.

'Of course it is not correct what he has done, but don't judge him too much because if you look at what many many people did on New Year's Eve maybe it's the same.'

Manchester City have been suffering from a Covid-19 outbreak since Christmas as their midweek match against Everton was postponed due to Guardiola's squad having too many cases.

Several of City's first-team stars - including the likes of Eric Garcia, Gabriel Jesus and Ederson - also missed the Chelsea match on Sunday due to the outbreak.

Reports emerged over the weekend that Mendy held a party for friends outside of his household on New Year's Eve in his £5million mansion - just three days after the postponement of the Everton game.

The defender admitted and apologised for inviting two friends and a chef to his property to see in the new year.

The footballer's New Year's Eve dinner included his partner, his niece and nephew - whom are all in his bubble - and one of his girlfriend's friends and her partner.

A chef was also brought in to his home in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, to cook dinner for the six of them.

Mendy did, however, deny reports that several other women attended the party despite photos showing women approaching his household with party balloons.

A spokesperson for Mendy, 26, said: 'Benjamin and his partner allowed a chef and two friends of his partner to attend his property for a dinner party on New Years Eve.

'Ben accepts that this is a breach of Covid-19 protocols and is sorry for his actions in this matter. Ben has had a Covid test and is liaising with Manchester City about this.'

When asked about whether Mendy should have known better being a football in a high-profile position, Guardiola claimed footballers should not be treated differently to the rest of the pubic.

Guardiola added: 'I don't think football players are more important than a doctor, NHS people, an architect or a teacher in the school for my kids. Why are we more important than the other ones? I don't think so.

'I have the same responsibility as another person in the world and the UK and of course I have to follow the rules.

'I have said many times to the clubs, to the players: follow the rules, social distance, mask and everything because the virus is here and in lockdown, the Government have to say what we have to do.

'In this, I'm not justifying Benjamin Mendy, he made a big mistake but it's finished here. Apart from this, he has to learn from there.'