Perhaps most surprisingly, Guardiola’s rant extended beyond Newcastle to revisit the pain of the 2025 FA Cup final. In that match, which saw Crystal Palace lift the trophy, City felt aggrieved by a decision involving goalkeeper Dean Henderson. The England shot-stopper appeared to handle the ball outside the area to deny Erling Haaland a goalscoring opportunity - a red card offence - but escaped punishment.
"I didn't say anything in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace when it was a red card after 30 minutes for Henderson," Guardiola recalled. "Did I say anything? No. It's OK. It's fine.
"In 10 years when we lost semi-finals in big competitions, I didn't say anything. On the touchline, sometimes. But here [the news conference] nothing."
Despite the manager's grievances, City are firmly in the driver's seat ahead of the second leg. The 2-0 victory at a hostile St James' Park is a testament to their professionalism amidst the chaos. Semenyo, despite the disallowed goal, was a constant threat, and the team’s defensive resilience ensured they take a healthy advantage back to the Etihad Stadium.
The return leg is scheduled for February 4, where City will look to book their place in the final against either Chelsea or Arsenal.