PEP GUARDIOLA IMPISHLY suggested his “ego” was responsible for a confrontation with Jack Grealish following Manchester City’s goalless draw against Arsenal at the weekend.
City drawing a blank at home against one of their Premier League title rivals on Sunday left them a point behind Arsenal and three adrift of leaders Liverpool with nine games of the season left.
At the full-time whistle, Guardiola was filmed in an animated discussion in the middle of the pitch with Grealish, who was brought on just after the hour mark in a fruitless bid to break the deadlock.
While Guardiola patted Grealish on the head before walking away, the episode has drawn plenty of scrutiny, which the Spaniard playfully took aim at ahead of City’s clash with Aston Villa on Wednesday.
“I do it for the cameras, for my ego,” the City manager said. “I’m the famous person of the team, if it’s on camera then I can sleep because I have incredible satisfaction.
“I always try to criticise the players there and let them know how bad they are.
“When Erling (Haaland) scores three goals, the compliments have to be with me, not with them, that’s why I use the cameras to do it. My advice next time is; don’t film us and it will not be a problem.”
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss was more serious when addressing the title picture.
After labelling Liverpool as favourites to end City’s streak of three-successive league crowns on Sunday, Guardiola accepted his side were running out of opportunities to reel in and overhaul their rivals.
They overturned an eight-point deficit last season to pip Arsenal to the top-flight title – en route to an historic treble – but Guardiola insisted City’s experience would count for little in this run-in.
“It’s just winning games, that’s what we have to do,” he said. “We have not many chances to drop points but there are still nine games.
“Our experience is over, it doesn’t count. What counts is Aston Villa, before it was Arsenal. When we were able to win lots of games in a row, it’s not thinking how many we would be able to, I don’t know.
“The only thing is to now prepare well for Aston Villa.”
Villa were the last team to beat City in the reverse fixture in the midlands in early December and Unai Emery’s side are targeting a top-four finish.
Guardiola, who confirmed Nathan Ake would join fellow defender Kyle Walker and goalkeeper Ederson on the treatment table after going off injured against the Gunners, is not overlooking Villa’s threat.
“Aston Villa are playing to qualify for the Champions League and every team is playing for something, so the last games will be difficult to manage for all of us,” Guardiola, who could welcome back John Stones, added.
“It’s excellent, the way they play. Unai Emery has consistency in every season. Villa have been impressive. It’s not a surprise, the quality of him, his management and the quality of the team.
“They’re really good on set-pieces and in transition, with two incredibly fast players up front.
“The shape is really clear, they can be high pressing after defending really well, they have a strong backline and an exceptional goalkeeper. That’s why they are where they are, fighting to be up there.”
Time for player power here… Surely it’s not the Galway players fault they got relegated…. Manager out……. God bless karma
Hahahah.I’m delighted after they stabbed a good man in the back
Fair play to Cork big big win for them away from home .
Anthony cunningham will be laughing and would have every right to be !
Bonkers system!!! Cork don’t win a game all league but one game allows them stay in the top division!!!!
It’s not fair Julian. It’s not cricket
Serves the Galway players for what they did to Anthony Cunningham, but not for there supporters. Corcaigh Abu
Galway hae great support but they should be letting the players know that this isn’t on , to get a good hurling man like cunningham sacked was a disgrace
That’ll quieten Patrick Horgan’s critics for a while at least.
Ha ha hon the rebels
Id love to see kerry get them in tralee next year
Kerry will get a crack at Galway in June if they keep it up. And I wouldn’t put my house on Galway
Shameful how cork can stay up 0 wins and 0 points cause today was a playoff game. Galway 2 draws and 1 win and 4 points and they go down. Headquarters really need to have a look at this for all the divisions
Shussh…Seanie! The “relegation system” is designed as a safety net for the bigger counties. But dont tell anyone
Seanie, if Galway can’t beat a team who didn’t win a league game all this season ( Cork) and in Pearse Stadium, it’s not as if Galway did not know the rules of the league ( bottom two in relegation final) , and again “fail” in a “final” then maybe Division 2 hurling ( called 1b ) is a correct level for them to be playing at presently . The players have no excuses. The senior players not scoring enough from open play and not scoring goals !!
Cunningham can’t be blamed for this one.
When is the last time that a Division 2 ( 1b) team won the Liam McCarthy?
Come on Galway bounce back from another setback !!
Clare not win it from 1B? Agree with all your points though. Love the league now. Every week is a big game.
Good win delighted for the lads will do there confidence a world of good rebles abu
Those nasty Cork chappies will surely offer to relegate themselves in place of those valiant Galway boys. Change the rules I say
Bad day for galway hurling
Corks first goal came from a very dubious free out that Galway could have had as a free in…4 point swing, but overall goals win games
The free count was heavily against Cork so sorry you cant use that as an excuse …
If the league was ran off again tomorrow some other two teams in Div one might end up in the bottom two as there is very little between Galway Tipp Cork Dublin waterford and now even Killkenny have come “back” closer to this group.It is hard luck on Galway to be relagated but does it really matter? Clare and limerick are in the league semi final and both will have a big say in this years championship.
Come back Anthony. Clearly you were not the problem. A diet of humble pie for the team might do them good as they wait months for their next match of any consequence.
Dubious Frees? Corks John cronin got spear tackled by a galway player at the end, and the ref gave a free to galway? Overall the free count was by far in Galways favour. Without the 11 from Frees from Jo Canning, the margin would have been alot more convincing.
Yes the ref had Maroon colored glasses on and did his best to keep Galway in it Im surprised he did not disallow one of the goals for something innocuous ..
Totally false when a team with no points stays up.a new system where bottom team should be automatically relegated is the way to go cuts out a needless match.
Believe