Pep Guardiola reveals what he told Man City star Stefan Ortega in heated moment
Share:
Pep Guardiola insists that he wasn't angrily berating Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after they suffered a late collapse and drew 2-2 with Brentford. City boss Guardiola was spotted getting animated while talking to Ortega just seconds after the full-time whistle, with cameras picking up the on-field moment. Viewers quickly theorised that Guardiola wasn't happy with his goalkeeper, with City having been 2-0 up going into the final 10 minutes.
Late goals from Brentford's Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard changed the outcome, with Bryan Mbeumo even having a chance to win it for the hosts in added time. Guardiola wasn't happy, marching onto the pitch to shake hands with Brentford's players and the match officials before becoming animated with Ortega, who got a big piece of Norgaard's leveller.
According to Guardiola, though, he was actually praising the German as well as defender Josko Gvardiol, who also received a talking-to. Post-match, the Spaniard explained: "[Gvardiol] played incredible! I was satisfied! The same with [Ortega]. "I said how good he played, the actions with the ball, the pass to Erling [Haaland], how happy and satisfied I am, especially with these two players and what they have done...".
It's not the first time that Guardiola has looked angry while actually praising one of his players in full view of the stadium at full-time. In March 2016, he looked to be criticising Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich following their 0-0 draw away to rivals Borussia Dortmund, only to explain that he was just hailing the young midfielder's display.