Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was, once again, not happy with refereeing decisions that he felt went against his squad.
Pep Guardiola admits that Manchester City beat Wolves ‘despite’ the performance of the referees as he called out PGMO head Howard Webb for explaining away a foul in the Manchester derby last week. Guardiola said Diogo Dalot’s challenge on Jeremy Doku forced the City winger out of their shock Champions League loss to Bodo/Glimt in midweek and chastised Webb for publicly defending the decision.
Guardiola was furious, again, on Saturday after his team were denied a penalty against Wolves in their 2-0 win. Omar Marmoush appealed for a spot-kick for handball and it was sent to VAR, who advised referee Farai Hallam – making his first appearance in the Premier League – to go to the monitor.
Sticking to his original decision, Hallam ruled that it wasn’t a penalty as he said that the defender’s arms were in a natural position when the ball hit him. Guardiola fumed about the decision after the match, and is still angry about Webb going on TV to say that Dalot’s foul was only worthy of a yellow card as he asked for his players to ‘fight’ the decisions that he says are going against his team.
FOLLOW OUR MAN CITY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester City Facebook page
“Yesterday I said I had the feeling that not having the players for the last two seasons is the only regret I have. I would love to have the players to fight against that. We won despite them.
“We did six Premier Leagues in nine years so why do I not have the players. The referee made a huge debut, now everybody will know him… I think it’s the first time they go to the TV and disallowed what is a ‘normal’ position of the arms.
“I’m pretty sure Howard Webb tomorrow is going to appear in the media to explain why it’s not a penalty and what he did against United, like it was the first time he had done it because there was a little bit of doubt.
“That’s why Jeremy could not play in Norway – for the action from Dalot. But it’s okay. I’m waiting tomorrow. Don’t wait for Wednesday – we have Champions League, we are busy – Howard Webb, come tomorrow and explain why it’s not a penalty. That’s why bring me back the players please to fight what we have done since day one. It’s too much.”
Guardiola’s issues with referees go all the way back to the start of his time at the Etihad Stadium a decade ago but his complaints have intensified after a meeting at the beginning of the season that appeared to indicate that Erling Haaland would get more protection. That failing to develop in reality has further annoyed the City boss.
“Come tomorrow to explain the rules how it works again. Do you know how many fouls are whistled to Jeremy with his incredible speed? If you and me run side by side with our rhythm and they push us and go down it’s diving but the speed with Jeremy they touch a little bit and he cannot control his speed,” he went on.
“Do you know how many fouls that they believe is diving from Jeremy? At the beginning of the season they tell us that long balls when the central defenders go over the shoulders of the striker it will be a foul. We had a good meeting. Do you know how many fouls for Erling Haaland. He has had more fouls whistled against him than for him. It’s again and again. Please bring me the players back is all I want, what we have done in nine years. I’m so sorry for them.”
