In the aftermath of Manchester City’s frustrating 2-2 draw against Brighton on Saturday, Pep Guardiola didn’t hold back his frustration, particularly after Jeremy Doku received a yellow card for diving.
The Belgian winger had leapt over Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke to avoid a tackle, a decision that later became a point of contention.
Referee Simon Hooper booked Doku, who fell to the ground after evading the challenge.
Guardiola was quick to voice his disapproval, arguing that Doku was only trying to protect himself from a potentially serious injury.
The City boss was visibly upset and approached the referee after the final whistle, making his concerns clear. “If he doesn’t jump, he could break his leg,” Guardiola explained.
“He jumped to avoid contact, but it doesn’t matter what I say about that.”
Guardiola Defends Doku’s Actions
Guardiola was adamant that Doku wasn’t trying to deceive the referee by diving.
“Jeremy is not a diving player,” he said, adding that Doku’s jump was a defensive move.
Guardiola continued, stating that the decision didn’t impact the outcome of the match, but still expressed his disbelief at the yellow card.
“I told the referee: ‘If he doesn’t jump, he’d have been kicked hard.’”
The frustration at the decision was evident, as it came at a time when Manchester City’s performance was already far from ideal.
A Disappointing Match for Manchester City
The game began with high hopes for Manchester City, as Erling Haaland converted a penalty in the 11th minute, putting them in the lead.
Things looked positive as Omar Marmoush, playing in a new role as a No. 10, doubled the lead with a stunning strike from outside the box just before halftime.
However, Brighton came back in the second half, scoring twice to level the match.
Abdukodir Khusanov’s goal added to City’s defensive woes, marking the team’s 39th and 40th goals conceded in the league—an alarming statistic under Guardiola’s management.
Guardiola Makes Surprise Substitution of Bernardo Silva
The match was also marked by a peculiar substitution, as Bernardo Silva, who had just entered the game in the 58th minute, was pulled off 18 minutes later.
Guardiola clarified that it wasn’t an injury-related decision but admitted uncertainty about Silva’s condition, saying, “I don’t know, I didn’t speak to the doctors.”
Despite this, Guardiola was quick to praise Silva’s resilience, saying, “Bernardo is so strong.”
A Tough Season for Manchester City
It’s been a tough season for Manchester City under Guardiola, with the team already out of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup after defeats to Real Madrid and Tottenham.
Their position in the Premier League is equally troubling, sitting in 5th place, 22 points behind Liverpool, with little hope of retaining their title.
There’s even the threat of dropping further, with Newcastle just one point behind and a game in hand.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Guardiola remained positive, reflecting on the team’s effort. “It was a good game. A tight game.
I know how difficult it is to make the process we’re in now. The players gave everything – we take the point and we keep going,” he said.
He also singled out the young players for praise, saying, “All the defenders were so clever. We were close, but unfortunately, we couldn’t do it.”
Looking Ahead
As Guardiola navigates one of his most challenging seasons at Manchester City, there’s no doubt he’ll need to find answers quickly to prevent further disappointment.
Despite the ongoing struggles, the manager’s commitment to pushing forward remains evident.