Pep Guardiola refuses to follow Mikel Arteta in referee rant as Man City frustrated

LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he would not follow his former assistant Mikel Arteta in a public tirade at officials, after his side’s

3-3 English Premier League home draw against Tottenham Hotspur

on Dec 3 ended in controversial fashion.

City were denied a huge chance to win the match in stoppage time when referee Simon Hooper stopped the game to award Guardiola’s men a free kick just as Jack Grealish was bearing down on goal.

The decision sparked a furious reaction from City players and Guardiola on the touchline, while star striker Erling Haaland could face punishment

after taking to social media to criticise the call.

However, when facing the media, Guardiola kept his cool.

“Next question. I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” he said, referring to the Arsenal boss calling the decision to award Newcastle United’s winning goal against the Gunners in November a “disgrace”.

“It is hard when you review the image. The referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play on (after a foul on Haaland). After the pass, then the whistle, so I do not understand this action.”

Haaland was incensed by the incident and was one of several City players to angrily remonstrate with the official and he continued his protests after the game by reposting a clip of the incident on X with the comment “Wtf”, which is an offensive slang.

The Norwegian now faces possible disciplinary action.

Guardiola was not aware of the social media post when he spoke to reporters but, referring to Haaland’s on-field reaction, he admitted he could understand the player’s anger.

“It’s normal,” added the City boss. “His reaction was the same for 10 players. He’s a little bit disappointed.

“Even the referee – if he played for Man City today he would be disappointed for that action, that’s for sure.”

After draws against Chelsea and Liverpool, City have now failed to win in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in over six years.

They were left in third place in the standings, three points behind leaders Arsenal and one behind Liverpool.

Guardiola’s men were made to pay for wasting good chances and committing defensive errors.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min scored at both ends in a frantic first 10 minutes.

City then went on to dominate the first half but had only Phil Foden’s goal to show for it.

A depleted Tottenham hit back after the break as Giovani lo Celso fired home 21 minutes from time.

Grealish looked to have given City victory in the 81st minute, but Dejan Kulusevski’s 90th-minute goal rescued a point for Ange Postecoglou’s men.

City have also now failed to win in five of their last eight Premier League games and face a daunting trip to fourth-placed Aston Villa on Dec 6. But Guardiola refused to panic as he defended the performance of his players.

“It was a pity. I had the feeling that today that we made an incredible performance in all departments, against a really good team and manager and how they play,” he said.

“We created a lot of chances, we were aggressive, incredibly concentrated, and the feeling is that we still want to be there (at the top of the table).

“Sometimes football is like life, you do not get what you deserve.”

Spurs boss Postecoglou, meanwhile, was true to his word when he insisted he would not shy away from his attacking philosophy despite a mounting injury list and facing the might of City.

The Australian admitted his side were let off the hook in the first half by City’s wastefulness in front of goal.

“We were lucky to be in it by half-time. City could have blown us away in that period,” said Postecoglou, whose side are in fifth and six points behind Arsenal.

“We weren’t anywhere near the level of our standards and City will do that to you, they are unbelievable.

“Second half we had more belief in ourselves and the team we want to be and we clawed our way back into the game.” AFP, REUTERS