January 14th 2025.
After Manchester City's match against Brentford ended in a 2-2 draw on Tuesday night, Pep Guardiola found himself in a heated discussion with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. However, the City manager was quick to deny any claims that he was berating Ortega and defender Josko Gvardiol.
Despite City appearing to be on course for their third consecutive Premier League win, thanks to two goals from Phil Foden in the second half, a late collapse saw Brentford stage a comeback. Yoane Wissa's goal gave the hosts a glimmer of hope before Christian Norgaard scored the equalizer in injury time.
After the game, Guardiola could be seen animatedly gesturing and speaking to Ortega, Gvardiol, and Savinho on the pitch. However, he clarified that he was actually praising his players for their performance.
In response to a question about what he said to Gvardiol at full time, Guardiola explained, "I told him how well he played, it was an incredible game. I was satisfied with the way he played, and we're talking about just one action. The same goes for Ortega, I praised his actions with the ball and how he had good passes to Erling. I am extremely happy and satisfied with what these two players have done."
Guardiola also addressed Foden's comment that City looked "leggy" in the final stages of the game. With a smile, he responded, "Yes, that's why I replaced him."
The draw against Brentford leaves City in sixth place in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. It was a disappointing result for the reigning champions, but Guardiola remains confident in his team's abilities and praised their overall performance.
Despite the late collapse, City displayed moments of brilliance during the match, particularly with Foden's goals. However, Guardiola acknowledged that there is room for improvement and will continue to work on their fitness and stamina in training.
Overall, while the result may not have been what City had hoped for, Guardiola remains positive and focused on the team's progress and growth. With the Premier League season still in its early stages, there is still plenty of time for City to climb up the table and challenge for the top spot.
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