Pep Guardiola caused a stir after Manchester City’s draw at Brentford by having some apparently strong words for some of his players on the pitch after fulltime.
Two goals from Phil Foden put the reigning Premier League champions in control at the Gtech Community Stadium only for a late comeback from the home side to see the game finish 2-2.
Yoane Wissa pulled a goal back four minutes after Foden had doubled City’s lead, and Christian Norgaard grabbed the equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time.
Brentford almost snatched all three points in the dying moments, Nathan Ake blocking a goal-bound effort from Bryan Mbeumo on the line after goalkeeper Stefan Ortega had been beaten.
Ortega and defender Josko Gvardiol were then the subjects of Guardiola’s immediate post-match thoughts, the City boss storming onto the pitch and appearing to share some strong opinions with the players.
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It is fair to say neither Guardiola nor Ortega and Gvardiol seemed especially happy, although the City stars appeared to know better than to pursue an argument with their boss.
Pep Guardiola GOES OFF at Stefan Ortega after Manchester City blew a two-goal lead 😡
Watch 📲 https://t.co/pw74sTKZ7u pic.twitter.com/r4ju4KX6zq
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) January 14, 2025
Guardiola was largely magnanimous when speaking to the media later, though, telling TNT Sports: “We’re disappointed. At the end, they make a lot of players in the box. We are not strong there.
“I have the feeling we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third. It is what it is.”
When asked about his team struggling to hold onto leads, he added: “I don’t know, it can happen. Sometimes it happens. We have to manage a little bit better, but today was not bad.”
What did Guardiola say to Ortega and Gvardiol after Brentford?
In the press conference afterwards, Guardiola claimed he had actually shared words of praise with his two players.
“How good he played. He played an incredible game,” he replied when asked what he told Gvardiol.
“We talked about one action, but it’s the same with Ortega: I said how good he played, how good he passed to Erling [Haaland], how satisfied I am with especially these two players.”
