GUARDIOLA DEFENDS HIS RANT AT REF

PEP GUARDIOLA is refusing to change his ways despite facing a touchline ban after he was sent to the stands in Manchester City’s Champions League defeat by Liverpool. The City boss was dismissed at half-time at the Etihad on Tuesday for remonstrating with Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who had incorrectly disallowed a Leroy Sane goal for offside. Guardiola, who had to watch the second half from the directors’ box, will accept his punishment when a UEFA disciplinary panel hears his case next month. But the 47-year-old believes he would react in the same way again. ‘I am who I am,’ said Guardiola (right). ‘I am a human being. I have passion. When I see that people don’t do what they have to do, I have to defend my team. ‘They deserve that they don’t feel they are alone. ‘I went there to take care of the players because they were talking with the referee. I didn’t want a yellow card for them. ‘In that moment, I said what I said. It was a good goal. The referee told me that if it was in

the dressing room then nothing would have happened, but it’s not allowed on the pitch in front of the spectators. OK, that’s the difference. ‘I prefer to be with my players than my chairman, but it’s the decision of the referee. Of course, it’s better...