Guardiola stays silent on Boly handball

PEP GUARDIOLA refused to blast referee Martin Atkinson after Manchester City dropped the first points of their Premier League title defence to Willy Boly’s handball goal.

The Wolves defender gave the Premier League newcomers the lead in the second half with a header that could have been ruled out for both handball and offside. Aymeric Laporte rescued a point with his first City goal and Guardiola appeared to remonstrate with referee Martin Atkinson at the final whistle, getting right up close to his ear to talk to him.

But after the game he refused to be drawn on the decisions or the issue of VAR, which would almost certainly have ruled out Boly’s effort.

‘I didn’t see it,’ he insisted.

‘I’m not the referee. I didn’t speak to him about that. I am not the referee and I never will be.’

Asked if he supported VAR, the City boss said: ‘I don’t work for the Premier League.

‘We created enough chances, to win the game,’ he added. ‘But it doesn’t count and we drew the game 1-1 and I don’t have too many regrets.’

Speaking after the game, Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo said: ‘It was a good game. But after we score we should managed a couple of minutes better.

‘It’s a growing process, one more to work on and improve for next week.’