PEP GUARDIOLA

may have been frustrated that Wolves became the first club to keep a clean sheet against free-scoring Manchester City this season. But to blame the ball for his team firing blanks and needing penalties to reach the League Cup quarter-finals was absolute nonsense.

First things first: Well played Wolves – the Championship front-runners didn’t seem to have any complaints that the ball was egg-shaped.

As for Guardiola, I’ve never heard so much rubbish in all my life. His men would have trained with that ball during the week leading up to the tie.

Many in City’s squad would have grown up kicking a ball in the street, or coming through academies where each ball is likely to be different.

Come on, Pep – why not just give Wolves the credit they deserved?