Pep Guardiola has suggested there is a hidden agenda against his team after he was handed a two-match touchline ban following their FA Cup victory over Newcastle United.
The Manchester City manager was shown a yellow card during the 3-1 win at St. James’ Park on Saturday night. He was punished for protesting a decision after his winger, Jeremy Doku, was stopped in the box.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola explained his frustration came from a specific moment involving Doku and Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier.
“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,” Guardiola said. “I will defend my team.”
That booking proved costly. It was Guardiola’s sixth caution of the season, which triggers an automatic two-match suspension. He will now have to watch the next two games from the stands.
The Spaniard responded with heavy sarcasm when discussing the ban, pointing out that despite all of City’s success on the pitch, he now holds a different kind of record.
“I will tell you something, we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything,” he said. “We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it.”
Guardiola joked about his impending absence from the dugout, suggesting he would treat it as an early break.
“Two game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. Oh my god. Oh my god.”
The City boss insisted he was not asking for special treatment for his player, but simply wanted the referee to make the right call. He admitted that after a decade in English football, there are still things that baffle him.
“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.”
Despite the drama off the pitch, City secured a comfortable win over Newcastle to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. However, Guardiola will not be on the touchline for the quarter-final tie, nor for the upcoming Premier League match at West Ham.
He will, however, be allowed to lead his team for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, as the ban does not cover that competition.