Danger tackles are worse than diving, says Pep
Manchester city manager Pep Guardiola has warned that the leniency of Premier League referees could lead to players suffering serious long-term injuries.
Kevin De Bruyne was the victim of a terrible challenge late on in city’s goalless draw at crystal Palace, when Jason Puncheon took a wild swipe at the Belgian as he sped away on the counter-attack.
referee Jon Moss only booked the Palace man, with both players carried off on stretchers. De Bruyne was later seen walking around the pitch as city medical experts waited to see if he could apply pressure to his leg.
he will probably miss the home match against Watford tomorrow, although the injury is thought only to be a heavy blow.
Guardiola has pleaded with officials to take a harder line. During the 4-1 win over tottenham, Dele alli made a dreadful challenge on De Bruyne and in the 1-0 win at newcastle, Jacob Murphy committed a poor foul on ilkay Gundogan.
‘i admire the physicality of the league, but the referees have to protect the players,’ said Guardiola. ‘it is all i am asking. they know what they have to do. People focus on diving, this kind of thing. i know contact is more allowed here than any other country, which is OK.
‘But there are limits. We were lucky against tottenham, with Kevin, we were lucky against newcastle, Gundogan, today we will see what happens. Protect all the players, please, from situations that are dangerous.
‘there is one line but where you go beyond it, that is dangerous. the referee has to follow the rules and protect the players. Football is faster and the players don’t want to hurt the opponent. But players could be out for a long time and they don’t deserve that.’
Palace manager roy hodgson said: ‘i’m here to talk about the 95 minutes of football, not the incidents you’ve probably seen 15 or 16 times. i was following the ball so didn’t pay the incident with Puncheon any heed.’
Guardiola also lost Gabriel Jesus to a knee injury and he left the pitch in tears. the manager confirmed he will be out for over a month. hodgson, meanwhile, saw scott Dann and Puncheon carried off — with both ironically unable to continue after fouling De Bruyne.
Jesus’s injury may persuade city to make the £ 25million bid in January that could prise alexis sanchez away from arsenal.
But Guardiola said: ‘he is a player from arsenal and i think he is going to stay at arsenal. i have a lot of things in my mind. in two days, we have another game. in terms of what happens, we will have meetings and see what is best. But my feeling now is alexis is an arsenal player.’