Manchester City success ‘despite’ refereeing calls, claims Pep Guardiola

MANCHESTER – Pep Guardiola said his success at Manchester City has come in spite of refereeing decisions going against his side, in a tirade following the 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan 24.

City were denied a penalty in the first half when referee Farai Hallam, who was taking charge of his first English Premier League game, refused to overturn his initial decision not to give a handball against Yerson Mosquera, despite being called to review the incident by the video assistant referee.

Guardiola was also angered that Diogo Dalot escaped a red card in the opening stages of their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on Jan 17, despite catching Jeremy Doku on the knee with his studs.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has won six Premier League titles in his nine full seasons in England.

But City were badly hit by injuries in 2025 as Liverpool romped to the title and trailed leaders Arsenal by four points at the start of this round.

“These (last) two seasons I had the feeling, why don’t I have the players? That is my only regret,” said Guardiola.

“I would love to have the players to fight against that (the refereeing decisions). They (City) won despite them.

“The referee made a huge debut. Now everybody will know him. I think it’s the first time they go to the TV and disallow (a penalty).”

Guardiola’s decision to hand a rare rest to Erling Haaland paid off as Omar Marmoush took his chance to deputise for the Norwegian by opening the scoring.

Antoine Semenyo then struck his third goal since joining City from Bournemouth earlier in January.

Marc Guehi also made his City debut at centre-back after sealing his move from Crystal Palace.

Guardiola believes Guehi and Semenyo will make a major impact in the second half of the season, with City still involved in four competitions.

“They are set-up players,” added the Spaniard. “Last season, (the January signings were) young players, except Omar.

“Antoine came with incredible energy and strikers are about numbers. Since he arrived, he has been unbelievable.

“Marc, I don’t need to tell you who he is. He knows everything. I remember it is similar to when Ruben (Dias) arrived and he had incredible focus for every action.

“With the ball he has incredible composure. We didn’t train anything yet but I have the feeling in the middle (of defence) we did a little better.

“He’s the perfect age and he’s the perfect signing for many, many years.

“He’s a guy you can rely on. I see it in two sessions. How he sees, how he moves, how he talks, how he reads the situations.”

Elsewhere, embattled Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank endured abuse from his own fans for the second week running, after his struggling side scrambled a late 2-2 draw at Burnley on Jan 24.

The London club were heading for a third successive Premier League defeat, when Cristian Romero’s 90th-minute header at least spared them from ignominy against 19th-placed Burnley.

It did not spare Frank though, as visiting fans again turned on the Dane as they did at home against West Ham United on Jan 17, chanting “sacked in the morning” as he made his way off the Turf Moor pitch.

Tottenham led through Micky van de Ven’s goal but Burnley hit back to level before the break through Axel Tuanzebe, and then went ahead in the 76th minute when substitute Lyle Foster found the net after a goalmouth scramble.

Tottenham have only two wins in their past 14 Premier League games. AFP, REUTERS