Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney over the recent controversy involving the England captain.

Rooney was forced to apologise earlier this week after pictures emerged of him seemingly drunk at a wedding following England's 3-0 win over Scotland at Wembley.

Reports have since claimed that the 31-year-old could lose the captaincy over the issue, but Guardiola believes that Rooney should be allowed to have a life outside the public eye.

"I was an international player and sometimes I drunk. I was lucky there were no pictures. We are people and are old enough to take responsibility. But it's private life," he told reporters.

"I don't like it when people comment on my private life so I won't comment. I have a lot of respect for the career of Wayne Rooney."

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has insisted that Rooney is "ready" to play against Arsenal this weekend despite the controversy.