Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised after he was shown angrily confronting a camera operator on the St James' Park pitch following Newcastle's 2-1 win on Saturday
Pep Guardiola confronts a cameraman
Pep Guardiola confronted a cameraman at St James' Park(Image: Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
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Pep Guardiola has admitted he feels "embarrassed" and "ashamed" after angrily confronting a cameraman in the wake of Manchester City's 2-1 defeat by Newcastle. Guardiola was involved in fierce conversations with Newcastle players Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, referee Sam Barrott and, bizarrely, a camera operator at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Manchester City boss was frustrated after a brace from Harvey Barnes gave Newcastle the three points. Barnes' second goal was controversial, with City believing that Gianluigi Donnarumma had been fouled in the build-up, although the goal was cleared after a lengthy VAR delay.
Guardiola was seen remonstrating with Guimaraes and Joelinton after the match. And he was also seen removing the ear phone of a cameraman to angrily shout at him.
"I apologised," Guardiola said in a press conference on Monday. "I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman.
"I am who I am. After 1,000 games, I’m not a perfect person, I make huge mistakes. It’s not about that. What is for sure, I defend my team and my club, that’s for sure.
"The reason why is I want to defend my team and my club. That is no doubt. Because from my experience to win the Premier League we have to do 100 points, 98 points, otherwise we don’t win it. That’s for sure."
The City boss also attempted to downplay the interaction he had with Guimaraes. "We have known Bruno for many, many years and every time after the game, even at the Etihad, we talk in the tunnel or wherever we talk, always," said Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola speaks to Bruno Guimaraes
Pep Guardiola had a heated conversation with Bruno Guimaraes at full-time
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"I don’t know what happened. Our paths always cross and I always have a good relationship with him. I love it. I’m an emotional guy, I love to talk and move my hands and my arms and everything."
In his post-match interview on Saturday, Guardiola continually reiterated that "everything is fine" when asked about the scenes on the pitch. But he clearly felt aggrieved by Barrott's decision-making and that of the VAR to allow Barnes' second goal to stand.
But, speaking ahead of City hosting Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday, he refused to go into the Newcastle game any more. "The referee was involved for 95 minutes, 98 minutes, he was involved. My god, he was involved," the City boss said.
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