Skip to content

Pep Guardiola points finger at officials after Manchester City's Champions League exit

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talks about his sending off against Liverpool in the Champions League

Pep Guardiola criticised the officials after Manchester City's chastening Champions League quarter-final defeat against Liverpool.

City were condemned to a 5-1 aggregate loss after losing 2-1 in Tuesday's second leg but their boss felt it could have been a different outcome had decisions gone his team's way in both matches.

Guardiola pointed to Mohamed Salah's "offside" run leading to the Reds' opener in the first leg, as well as the Leroy Sane goal - when City had cut the aggregate deficit to 3-1 - wrongly ruled out by the flag.

A glum Pep Guardiola looks on after being sent to the stands during City's Champions League second-leg defeat
Image: Guardiola looks on after being sent to the stands during City's Champions League second-leg defeat

The Spaniard was incensed by that decision, earning himself a seat in the stands as he was sent off at half-time for his on-pitch rant at referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz.

"I said he was wrong," said Guardiola when asked about his dismissal. "I didn't insult him. I just said it was a penalty and it was a goal.

"The ball [for Sane] came from (James) Milner. He said, 'From Milner it came?'. 'Yes, from Milner'.

Liverpool players celebrate their goal against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final
Image: Liverpool secured a convincing aggregate victory against their Premier League rivals

"When it comes from Milner it is not offside, and we go to half-time 2-0. Two-nil against that team is a little bit different.

Also See:

"In these kind of games, in these competitions, the impact is so big. At Anfield the first goal from (Mohamed) Salah is offside. The goal from Gabriel Jesus in Anfield was a goal, not offside."

City's European exit capped a wretched week, which also saw them blow the chance to clinch the Premier League title against bitter rivals Manchester United but Guardiola called on his players to deliver one last push.

Live Premier League

"We'll go again next season. Big congratulations to Liverpool," he added. "Hopefully they can represent England well in the semi-final.

"We have to recover mentally. Now we have a mini Premier League for six games and we are going to try to close it."

Play Super 6 for £250k
Play Super 6 for £250k

Could you be the next Super 6 jackpot winner? Enter your predictions for free here.

Around Sky