Pep Guardiola said he is “embarrassed and ashamed” after a skirmish with a cameraman following Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United on Saturday.
The City head coach was pictured lifting the Sky Sports cameraman’s headphones and speaking to him as the operator filmed him on the pitch at the end of the game at St James’ Park.
Guardiola had gone onto the playing surface to speak with Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, something he often does with opposition players.
This appeared heated with both men gesticulating as they came away from their discussion. Guardiola said after the match that the chat was about a clash between Guimaraes and City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, while he also lauded the player for his ability.
The Spaniard approached referee Sam Barrott as well while Newcastle midfielder Joelinton exchanged words with him. Guardiola also clashed with a cameraman, who was in close proximity to him, at the end of the match. It is not known what he said but the City head coach was apologetic for his actions with the still pictures of the moment showing him speaking directly into his ear.
“I apologised,” he said. “I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman.
“I am who I am. After 1,000 games I’m not a perfect person, I make huge mistakes. It’s not about that. What is for sure, I defend any team and my club, that’s for sure.
“The reason why is I want to defend my team and my club. That is no doubt. Because from my experience to win the Premier League we have to do 100 points, 98 points, otherwise we don’t win it. That’s for sure.”
Guardiola talks with Guimaraes after the game (George Wood/Getty Images)
City suffered their fourth defeat in 12 Premier League games against Newcastle which leaves them seven points behind leaders Arsenal. Guardiola appeared upset with the officials in the game and indicated he would address the matter later this week when he speaks ahead of the weekend game with Leeds United.
“The referee was involved for 95 minutes, 98 minutes, he was involved,” he said. “My god, he was involved. We talk on Friday, yeah?”
Guardiola felt Donnarumma may have been fouled for Harvey Barnes’ second decisive goal on Saturday. It was his main issue with the officiating during the feisty encounter.
Ahead of their Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night, the 54-year-old was asked about why he chooses to go onto the pitch at the end of games to speak to opposition players.
“I love it. I’m an emotional guy, I love to talk and move my hands and my arms and everything,” he added.
“We [have] known Bruno for many, many years and every time after the game, even at the Etihad, we talk in the tunnel or wherever we talk, always. I don’t know what happened. Our paths always cross and I always have a good relationship with him.”
City are unbeaten in Europe this season after four games ahead of the visit of Leverkusen to the Etihad Stadium and are in a strong position to qualify for the next round but they will still be without midfielder Rodri, who Guardiola confirmed is still not ready to return as he rebuilds himself to full fitness following last season’s ACL injury. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic is City’s only other absentee.
