Pep Guardiola: Sky Sports reporter Rob Palmer reflects on interview with Man City boss
Tuesday 3 January 2017 08:55, UK
Manchester City overcame Fernandinho's first-half sending off to beat Burnley on Monday - but Pep Guardiola's unexpected reaction to the win has sparked discussion.
The City boss was reluctant to analyse the contest or his captain's red card when he spoke to Sky Sports after the game, while his insistence he was "so happy" with the result contrasted with his blunt responses.
Here, Sky Sports reporter Rob Palmer reflects on interviewing Guardiola after City's 2-1 victory…
"I've been to Pep Guardiola press conferences previously and I've commentated on him as a player and manager during his time with Barcelona but I'd never interviewed him before, so I was looking forward to it. It turned out he wasn't a very good first date!
"After seeing 10-man City beat Burnley, we had our opportunity to ask Guardiola about the performance and importance of the result.
"The BBC reporter went first and was very polite with his questions. Guardiola, though, seemed intent on making a point about something and only answered with "yes" and "no".
"Forewarned, I tried to get him to expand on his points, but he was clearly intent on responding the way he did.
"After the interview he said it was nothing personal - and that was proved by him delivering a similar interview to a radio station shortly afterwards.
"He was equally as short in the press conference and gave an odd answer about nearing the end of his coaching career. He seems to be talking in riddles at the moment.
"But people like Guardiola measure every word and action and he clearly came out trying to portray something.
"Perhaps he was simply keen to deflect attention from his players. He admitted himself that he got his team selection wrong, while one of his senior players, Fernandinho, who was his captain on the day, picked up his third red card of the season. But no one is talking about that now - just how Guardiola was in his interview.
"Of course, he's been under intense pressure at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before but he is being severely scrutinised at Manchester City and maybe he was responding to that. He was even gesturing at the City fans as he made his way back to the dugout after half-time. He must feel the world is against him.
"It was a bizarre experience and everyone was left gobsmacked afterwards. It was an interview I was looking forward to - and one I won't forget anytime soon!"
