Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is standing by Taylor Harwood-Bellis over claims he 'cashed up' Scunthorpe United striker Kevin van Veen this week.

Van Veen made the claim after Scunny's EFL Trophy win over City. The Dutchman revealing the teenager's taunts both on social media and national radio.

A City spokesman later said that 17-year-old Harwood-Bellis would not have said what Van Veen claimed.

And Guardiola was asked on Friday during his press conference for the match with Aston Villa about the issue.

"Taylor has said that it is not true and I believe him," said the Spaniard, who did not want to say anything else about it.