Josep Guardiola, known for his fiery attitude on the touchline, found himself in the spotlight again after Manchester City’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Brentford. Reigning Premier League champions City looked to be heading for victory with Phil Foden scoring two goals quickly in the second half. However, Brentford made a strong comeback with Joan Wissa and Christian Norgaard finding the back of the net in the closing stages. Knollgaard’s header scored the equalizer in the 92nd minute, but the Citizens regretted not being able to close out the game.
Despite recently defeating Salford 8-0 in the FA Cup to claim back-to-back Premier League titles, the draw leaves City’s form this season even more uncertain. Guardiola was visibly frustrated by the result and did not hesitate to express his feelings after the match.
The match itself featured some intense action, but it was the heated post-match exchange between Guardiola and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega that grabbed the headlines. A video of the experienced boss speaking animatedly to Ortega went viral, sparking speculation about the nature of their interaction.
Many thought the City manager was reprimanding his goalkeeper for a late collapse that allowed Brentford to force a draw. But the Spaniard told his version of events, offering insight into the tense but supportive relationship he shares with his players.
Pep and Ortega’s exchange: Encouragement or criticism?
Immediately after the match, cameras caught Guardiola approaching Ortega in a heated tirade. Videos showed Guardiola taking turns hugging, shaking and speaking animatedly to the German and Spanish goalkeepers, fueling rumors of a heated showdown. However, Guardiola addressed the matter in his post-match press conference.
“I told him how well he played in ball-handling situations, how great the pass to Erling Haaland was and how happy I was with him,” the 53-year-old said. he explained. He insisted his actions were intended to uplift Ortega, who was recently appointed City’s starting goalkeeper following Ederson’s injury.
Lip reading offers another perspective
Despite Guardiola’s explanation, a lip-reading expert offered a different interpretation of the exchange. Jeremy Freeman told the Daily Mail that Guardiola had told Ortega to use time-wasting tactics in the closing stages of games. Freeman claimed that Guardiola had instructed the German goalkeeper to “send a yellow.” This was an instruction to intentionally delay the match, even if it meant receiving a warning.
This insight echoes the frustration expressed by Guardiola over his team’s inability to manage the game after taking a two-goal lead. “We didn’t make the right decisions in the last third to end the game,” the Spanish coach admitted to TNT Sports. He admitted the result was disappointing, especially as City squandered an opportunity to close the gap at the top.
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