Manager urges his players to focus on themselves despite Arsenal’s recent slip up
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has refused to back down from criticism of referees after being called out for his remarks against Premier League debutant Farai Hallam on Saturday.
Hallam was taking charge of his first game in the English top flight as City faced Wolves at the Etihad. The match official was summoned to the pitchside monitor by VAR after Yerson Moquera appears to have handled the ball as he tried to close down Omar Marmoush.
After review, Hallam stuck with his original decision and refused to award City a penalty. A furious Guardiola said after the game that Hallam made a “huge debut” and that “everybody will know” him now.
The City coach has since been criticised by various pundits for those comments.
“If he feels offended, I’m so sorry,” Guardiola said. “With their statements, they [the referees] defend each other. Completely understandable, they have to do that.
“But at the same time I have to defend my club. How many times did I criticise the referees last season, which was the worst season in 10 years? How many times? It never happened. Against [Manchester] United, what happened? After the United game, what were my comments against the referees? Tell me.
“I was incredibly respectful in my nine or 10 years with the referees, in defeats and everything, never commenting on absolutely anything.
“I know they defend each other and pundits and everyone defends them. And I understand completely. But I defend my players and I defend my club. That’s why I owe [it to] them – my club and my people – what happened in that.”
City have struggled to prove their credentials for another Premier League title under Guardiola, but they are now four points within reach of Arsenal after the Gunners lost against United on Sunday. However, Guardiola wants his players solely focused on themselves.
“My advice to them is focus on what you have to do,” Guardiola said. “If we are happy and optimistic just for the fact our contenders lose a game, it will not be good. We can do better to win games.
“Now it’s a different competition and we are already qualified, that’s good, but it will be really important to be able to finish in the first eight.”
