Lewis was shown a second yellow card despite appearing to have been fouled
Guardiola approached the referee post-match and had an animated discussion
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By MICHAEL PAVITT
Published: 13:39 EST, 7 December 2024 | Updated: 13:39 EST, 7 December 2024
Pep Guardiola was seen confronting referee Rob Jones after Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace after being reduced to 10-men.
Guardiola's side twice came from a goal down against the Eagles at Selhurst Park with Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis cancelling out goals from Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix.
The result continued Man City's poor run of form, with the reigning Premier League champions having won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions.
Man City had been reduced to 10-men in the closing stages of the match, with goalscorer Lewis shown a second yellow card by Jones after being ruled to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah.
Footage, however, showed Chalobah had caught Lewis in the collision, but VAR was unable to overturn Jones' decision due to the incident being a second yellow card.
Man City players protested the decision to Jones, while Guardiola was seen showing his frustration at the official at full-time.
Pep Guardiola approached referee Rob Jones after Man City's draw with Crystal Palace
Man City had played the closing stages with 10-men after Jones sent off Rico Lewis
Guardiola was seen in an animated discussion with the referee
Guardiola said 'sometimes I go on the pitch' when quizzed about the exchange post-match
Guardiola was seen approaching Jones and exchanged in an animated discussion with the official.
When asked about the red card post-match Guardiola claimed he 'didn't see it'.
The Man City boss was asked post-match about whether he had entered the pitch because of frustration over the red card.
'Sometimes I go on the pitch, sometimes I go direct to the locker room,' Guardiola replied.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Guardiola stressed he was 'proud' of his players despite being held to a draw.
'We played the last 15 minutes with 10 vs 11, we have seven potential starting XI players injured, a lot of players with minutes, the physicality from Palace is there,' Guardiola said.
'We did everything to try to win and [I'm] really proud and pleased for the players.
'We made two fantastic goals, in set-pieces right now every single team is stronger than us.
Lewis was shown a second yellow card after being adjudged to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah
Man City had protested the decision with Chalobah appearing to have caught Lewis
'In general the game was there. Really pleased for many things I saw.
'The season started difficult and will be difficult all season. We have to survive, every game try to take points, win games and go forward.
'We knew it from the beginning, we have to continue with the players at our disposal.'
The draw against Crystal Palace keeps Man City in fourth place in the Premier League table.
The champions are eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand after the Merseyside derby was postponed earlier on Saturday.