Pep: I don’t waste time thinking about the match officials
MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola insists he does not “spend one second” thinking about referees as he prepares to face Nottingham Forest in the wake of their high-profile criticism of match officials.
Relegation-threatened Forest were furious not to be awarded three penalties during last weekend’s 2-0 Premier League loss at Everton and made headlines by releasing a series of strong statements.
Guardiola, who takes his titlechasing side to the City Ground tomorrow afternoon, feels being preoccupied with refereeing appointments is a waste of his time.
“I go to the game and I never ever know who is the referee,” said Guardiola.
“When I see their face, it’s ‘oh, I remember that face’. I never in my life talk about the referees before, during or after – never ever, ever.
“A mistake can be a mistake and we are sad, and when it’s in our favour we are lucky.
“But I don’t waste my time. I have to economise, I have to choose with my time exactly what I have to do.
“I don’t spend one second (thinking) about referees, especially when we lose.”
Forest questioned the decision to select Stuart Attwell, a fan of their relegation rivals Luton Town, as VAR for the match at Goodison
Park and raised concerns with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
They subsequently called for conversations between Attwell and on-field official Anthony Taylor to be released publicly after bemoaning “three extremely poor decisions” during the damaging defeat to the Toffees.
Referees’ body PGMOL privately shared the audio with Forest, who feel they have suffered a string of injustices in a season when the club were deducted four points for breaching financial rules.
“All I am concerned about is what we have to do to play well,” said Guardiola, whose side moved a point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand by beating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 on Thursday evening.
“The decisions are the decisions and during the season there are moments that help you, sometimes not.
“You have to do what you have to do to beat 11 against 11 against Nottingham Forest.”