Last Updated:
City threw away a two-goal lead against Brentford to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw against the Bees. City boss Guardiola was pictured having an animated conversation with his side’s keeper Ortega following the stalemate.
Pep Guardiola, Stefan Ortega. (X)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not seem happy with his goalkeeper Stefan Ortega’s display during the recent league game against Brentford FC. Guardiola’s men blew a two-goal lead at the Gtech Community Stadium on Tuesday, January 14, to draw 2-2 with The Bees. Leading the game for the most part in the second half, the Cityzens conceded two quick goals within 10 minutes during the fixture’s closing moments.
After the match, Guardiola had a rather animated chat with Ortega. Optus Sport has now shared a clip of Guardiola’s conversation with the goalkeeper on X (formerly Twitter). “Pep Guardiola goes off at Stefan Ortega after Manchester City blew a two-goal lead,” the post read.
In the video, Guardiola grabbed Ortega aggressively while speaking to him. He got in the goalkeeper’s face and shouted in his ear before pulling away. He even hit Ortega lightly on the chest before embracing him again. Once the conversation was over Guardiola and Ortega started walking towards the locker room together. The Spaniard kept his head low as he walked outside the football pitch.
Guardiola later revealed what he told Ortega in the post-match conference. “How good he (Josko Gvardiol) played. He played an incredible game. We talked about one action but it’s the same with Ortega – I said how good he played, how good he passed to Erling (Halaand), how satisfied I am with especially these two players,” he said, as per multiple outlets.
While Guardiola was happy with some of his players’ performances, he acknowledged that the team lost control in the final moments of play on Tuesday.
“The last minutes we didn’t manage well at 2-0 but after 2-1 we managed well, sometimes that happens. McAtee must shoot this action but imagine he doesn’t shoot and makes an extra pass and maybe the game would finish there but he has to shoot to score. Savinho had an action to pass to Erling and he’s one against one. Today we didn’t make the right decision in the final third,” he concluded.
The draw puts Manchester City in the sixth place on the Premier League table after 21 games. They remain 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who dropped two vital points drawing against Nottingham Forest. Pep Guardiola’s men will play Ipswich Town in the next Premier League fixture on January 19 at Portman Road.
- Location :
United Kingdom (UK)
