Pep Guardiola is set to cop a two-match touchline ban as the Manchester City received his sixth yellow card of the season - but insists he won't stop defending his players
Pep Guardiola is due to face a two-match ban
Pep Guardiola is due to face a two-match ban
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claimed he "wants all the record in this country" after picking up another ban - and insists he won't stop defending his players.
The Manchester outfit left Newcastle on Saturday night with their FA Cup hopes still in tact. They recovered from an early Harvey Barnes goal to secure a 3-1 victory at St James' Park, but Guardiola paid a price after letting rip at the fourth official in the second-half.
The City boss has now received six yellow cards and new regulations, introduced this season, mean Premier League managers are suspended for one game once they have received three yellow cards, but six bookings lands them a two-match ban.
The ban will cover league and FA Cup games but not European games or finals, so Guardiola will be on the touchline for the Carabao Cup final with Arsenal on March 22. But the Catalan explained that opposition teams are continuing to use unfair methods to halt his team and cannot understand why they are allowed to continue.
He said: "When Jeremy Doku dribbles Trippier and goes alone to the box and is being pulled from behind, I'm not asking for a yellow card but it's a foul. I will defend my team.
"I will tell you something - we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything. We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it. Two game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. Oh my god. Oh my god. There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I’m going to defend Doku and all my teams. They continue to do it."
Guardiola will have now to sit out next Saturday's Premier League fixture with West Ham and City's FA Cup quarter-final clash on the weekend of 4-5 April, but their opponent won't be determined until the draw is made, although the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are still in the competition.
The Man City boss insists he will not change his ways
The Man City boss insists he will not change his ways
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City, both players and their manager, have aired several grievances with refereeing decisions this term. The Premier League hopefuls have endured several frustrations at Newcastle alone this term. In their Carabao Cup semi-final they say a controversial goal disallowed.
And in their league loss back in November Phil Foden was denied a clear penalty. That night Guardiola spoke with referee Sam Barrott, but then kept his emotions in check post-match. Quizzed on this issue he said "everything is fine" and "it is what it is".