PEP GUARDIOLA lambasted Phil Foden for his “unacceptable” mistake in a furious X-rated rant last season.
Guardiola’s heated dressing down after City’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last December was captured as part of Manchester City’s new behind-the-scenes documentary.
The Premier League’s dominant force have today released a feature film following their record-breaking four-in-a-row Prem title success last term.
The movie, aptly named ‘Together: 4-In-A-Row’, gives fans a glimpse into what it took for the Cityzens to win their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
But with that comes the challenges they faced too, including blowing a 2-0 lead at home to Crystal Palace in December and the aftermath of that draw.
City had led by two goals but saw their comfort blanked ripped from underneath them as Jean-Philippe Mateta bagged a late goal and then won a penalty in stoppage time – which was converted my Michael Olise to share the points.
The late collapse left Guardiola fuming, particularly with Phil Foden, who was the man that had brought down Mateta in the dying embers of the game to give away the spot-kick.
Acting in frustration, Guardiola lashed out at Foden’s mistimed tackle and blasted it as “unacceptable.”
He said: “Phil, in the f*****g 18-yard box, you don’t touch the opponent. It’s unacceptable, Phil Foden, unacceptable!”
Going on to blast the team as a whole by adding: “You are to apologise. You are teenagers.
5
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
“I say something when we drop points against Tottenham and Liverpool? I say something? Tell me. I blame you? I say something?
“Here [pointing at his head], use it. Here, you have to use it! F*****g hell. F*****g hell.”
Perhaps it’s those standards that helped Foden kick on to become the PFA Player of the Year last term and the team to claw back a seven-point deficit from title rivals Arsenal later in the season.
However, Guardiola admitted in the documentary that he doesn’t like getting angry with his players and would rather stay calm in the dressing room.
“I’m not really proud sometimes.”, He said. “Most of the times, right after the game when I am angry, for my emotions, to it to the players.
“I’m a human being and make mistakes and I don’t like that. I don’t like it.
“In that moment from 2-0 down, an unnecessary penalty, sometimes I cannot control myself either.”
Guardiola has become well known for his impassioned antics on the sidelines and in the dressing room.
But the Spaniard is widely considered as the best manager in the world with his unusual techniques all part of his genius.
And it looks like City players will have to put up with that harsh criticism and direct approach from the former Barcelona boss for a little longer too.
That’s because SunSport understands that Guardiola is on the verge of agreeing a new one-year contract extension with Man City.
It’s expected he will put pen to paper on a new one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.
5
5
What will happen to Man City?
MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.
Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….
Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?
Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.
It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.
Custis: Why is that?
Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.
But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.
I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.
Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.
