Pep Guardiola justifies Rodri’s frustration with referees after controversial Tottenham and Manchester United decisions | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended his players’ frustrations around refereeing decisions continually going against the club in recent weeks.

City have been at the wrong end of controversy in recent meetings with Manchester United, Wolves and Tottenham. Diogo Dalot escaped a red card for a dangerous knee-high challenge on Jeremy Doku a few weeks ago as United ran out 2-0 winners against City at Old Trafford.

Omar Marmoush was denied what appeared like a stonewall penalty in City’s 2-0 win over Wolves a few weeks ago, with Marc Guehi also being fouled in an action that directly led to Tottenham’s first goal in their 2-2 draw with the Blues at the weekend.

Rodri spoke of unfair refereeing decisions against Manchester City in an outspoken post-match interview in north London on Sunday night, citing that officials need to do better and that his side have been unfairly wronged more than a few times of late.

Quizzed on frustration with refereeing decisions in his camp ahead of Wednesday’s night Carabao Cup semi-final return leg against Newcastle United, Guardiola said: “Let me be clear, the situation that we are in in the Premier League, especially in that position that looks like really, really bad but I know our standards.

“So in the last game against Spurs, just three players had all the process, all the. We’re talking about (it) every single day, just three players there, the other ones need, I think, honestly, a little bit more time. But we are in the UEFA Champions League in the top eight, it’s an incredible success. We are in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.

“I know the standards are top. I read the quotes that if we have not dropped the second-half that we dropped so far in the Premier League, we’ll be 12 points in front of Arsenal. So, in many things, I think we are doing really, really well considering, you know, the fact that we are.

“So let me be clear, the situation that we are in the Premier League absolutely belongs to us. For a little, little bit more, but believe me, a little bit more, we’ll be there, be closer. But, on the other side, last season was arguably the most difficult season we had in nine years, ten years in games and results and everything, right? It was the worst.

“How many times we talked about the referees? How many? No, honestly, last season. Zero. Do you know my comments after the Old Trafford game? What happened with the red card, my comments? You remember? It was, ‘We don’t deserve anything.’ So they were much, much better.

“And I could say and spend a thousand million times (talking) about Dalot (on) Doku that he could not play after. Did I say anything? Last season? No. But what I said before, we can be in agreement, Spurs, I love it, many, many things we have done it, it’s close the process that we have done.

“When talking about the transitions that happened, I know the reason why the transitions happened and it’s not our fault. The opponents made a run and the transitions didn’t happen. But after that there are the images, here in front of us. If you see and you don’t agree, OK it’s fine.

“If you are not in agreement with the action we had in the last four games that happened, that of course had an influence, it’s fine! I’m not going to spend time (talking about them). This club, for the hierarchy, is not allowed to talk about that, and they focus on what they are doing.

“That’s why I won with my team 13 or 14 (titles or games in a row) because the excuses were completely out. Last season showed that, not one word. It was not really good last season. It was ourselves.

“Not even here (did I) blame one day, as a manager, as a spokesman of the club, to the players, to the club, it’s always on my shoulders that we have to do better, I have to do better, I have to find a way – like now, I have to find a way.

“Do you think the second half we dropped is for the referees? No. The players know it every single day. But it’s a fact that what happened this season, this season, we have the history, never ever in the history of humanity, never ever have we had info in front of our eyes, watching more clearly than now.”

Guardiola will be desperate for City to return to winning ways against Newcastle on Wednesday as the Blues prepare for a must-win Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday evening.