Pep Guardiola has vowed to improve his behaviour in the technical area after becoming the first manager to be banned under new Premier League rules…CONTINUE READING...CONTINUE READING
Ahead of a crucial week in Manchester City’s season, Guardiola has achieved another record by completing a one-match suspension at Molineux on Saturday.
Guardiola picked up a third yellow card of the season in the Carabao Cup defeat at Newcastle and was punished with a touchline ban, as the Premier League move to cut out dissent from managers.
He will return for Wednesday’s Champions League tie against RB Leipzig and insists he is not prepared to risk further sanctions – a second suspension will be two matches.
“I have to control it. When you see a few things you don’t like then I will say. I’d like to control (myself) but I cannot assure you 100 per cent that I will control it,” he said.
“It’s a new rule. They explained to us that sometimes we are not correct to them. They are the bosses. We have to accept it. We’re not going to change. I have to adapt to them.
“I was the first to be banned so that’s a new record.
“When I was a player at Barcelona I was the least physical player ever but maybe I was one of the most booked players in Barcelona – always because I talk and talk and talk.
“Now as a manager it is the same. I say something if I think it’s an injustice or something I don’t like.”
From his seat in the Billy Wright Stand, Guardiola did not enjoy watching his treble winners fall to their first league defeat of the season, in what was a chastening week.
After being knocked out of the Carabao Cup, their hopes of a seventh successive league victory were ended by a dangerous Wolves team.
The absence of defensive midfielder Rodri felt significant and he will complete the final match of his suspension next weekend when the team travels to Arsenal.
Without Rodri, City can appear vulnerable under pressure and lacking momentum and he is clearly indispensable.
There was also a miserable afternoon for Matheus Nunes, the £53 million signing from Wolves, who was jeered for his every touch before he was mercilessly hooked at half-time.
His former team-mates were a constant menace on the counter-attack, frequently exposing weaknesses in the City defence and thoroughly deserving of their victory.
Wednesday’s visit to Leipzig could also prove a tricky encounter for Guardiola, though he could be boosted by the returns of John Stones and Bernardo Silva from injury.
“Every year we lose games. A few, but we lose games. We’re going to analyse it and a few players are coming back,” said Guardiola.
“We’ll rest and recover for Germany to play in another competition. Then Arsenal, the international break and we go on…CONTINUE READING
