PEP GUARDIOLA HAS been asked to explain his version of events to the Football Association (FA) with regards to the post-match incident involving the Manchester City manager and Southampton winger Nathan Redmond on Wednesday.
The Catalan was involved in a seemingly heated conversation with Redmond after City won their Premier League match 2-1, wrapping his arm around the player and slapping him on the chest, leading to speculation over what was said.
Guardiola told the media afterwards that he simply praised the winger’s ability, and questioned why he was not allowed to attack.
“I was telling Nathan Redmond how good he is at the end. Southampton have some super talented players, Redmond is so good one against one,” he said.
“But they didn’t want to play, they were time wasting from the ninth minute. I just wanted them to play.”
Newspaper reports subsequently claimed that Guardiola used an expletive, but Redmond took to social media to rubbish the report, insisting it was “all praise”.
“Yes, he was very passionate, intense and aggressive – but he was only very complimentary and positive to me,” he wrote in a statement posted on Twitter.
“He commented on my qualities as a young English player and how he wanted me to attack his team more during the game in a similar way to last season.
“I told him I was doing what my manager had asked me to do in the game. That’s it.
“Nothing negative or offensive was said towards me from Pep and that’s what makes him one of the best managers in world football.”
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Saw the BBC drama which was very good. Had never heard of him until then so good to see him being remembered for his work and vision.
He was one of those amazing men who left his mark on the world.
The best of men is what I think the movie was called, very good indeed.
He wasn’t afraid to mix-it with officialdom and in order to get his way.