November 9th 2024.
Following Manchester City's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday, manager Pep Guardiola had some strong words for defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Guardiola revealed that he confronted van Hecke about his altercation with Erling Haaland during the match.
It has been a tough few weeks for Guardiola, as this loss marks the fourth consecutive defeat for Manchester City. The team now trails behind Premier League leaders Liverpool by two points, with Liverpool playing Aston Villa later that evening.
The match started off well for City, with Haaland scoring the opening goal in the first half. However, Brighton came back strong in the second half, and substitute Joao Pedro scored an equalizer with just 12 minutes remaining. To add insult to injury, Brighton's 23-year-old midfielder Matt O'Riley came off the bench to score the winning goal in his Premier League debut.
Tensions ran high in the closing stages of the match, as van Hecke and Haaland got into a physical confrontation inside Brighton's penalty area. Both players were booked for their actions, with van Hecke pulling Haaland to the ground.
After the final whistle, Guardiola made a beeline for van Hecke and engaged in a deep conversation with the Dutch defender. When asked about their exchange, Guardiola explained that he was not pleased with van Hecke's actions towards Haaland.
Guardiola stated that van Hecke should have stayed strong and not gone to ground, despite Haaland's aggressive behavior. He commended van Hecke for his overall performance in the game, but also reminded him to remain composed in tense situations like this.
Despite the loss, Guardiola acknowledged Brighton's strong performance and congratulated them on their well-deserved victory. It remains to be seen how Manchester City will bounce back from this defeat, but one thing is for sure - Guardiola will continue to hold his players accountable for their actions on the pitch.
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