Pep: ‘ There’s nothing ugly about us’
CITY’S BOSS STANDS BY HIS RECORD
PEP GUARDIOLA has flatly denied suggestions he and his coaching staff routinely pressurise officials to influence decisions.
Porto manager Sergio Conceicao accused Manchester City’s dugout of actively trying to sway the match officials when the sides clashed at the Etihad in October as the hosts won 3- 1.
The combustible Portuguese also accused Guardiola of using “ugly words” about his home country. But, ahead of tonight’s return Group C fixture, Guardiola pointed to his record at City as well as in Spain and Germany to reject the claims.
The City manager said: “It is his opinion but I don’t agree. We didn’t pressure the referee and history speaks for itself.
“We are not the type of team to do this kind of thing. I would admit, if there’s an action you do not agree with, you can make any comment with the assistant referee but that’s one specific action. It is not a part of who we are. The five years we’ve been here – and before that in Germany or Spain – our behaviour speaks for itself.” Five City players were booked in the first clash between the sides and Guardiola expects another rigorous examination.
He said: “It will be a tough physical game. It was here and I saw their game against Marseille. They have an incredible team spirit, they fight for each other, their physicality is outstanding and it will be tough.
“But that’s normal, it’s the Champions League. We expected when they came here it would be difficult and it was and this will be the same.” City have qualified for the knockout stages and can secure top spot with a point. But Guardiola is demanding a victory to keep momentum going ahead of a busy month in the Premier League.
He said: “We need a lot of victories in the next five or six games. We won the last one and now go into a competition where we’ve done really well.”
City face six games in the league and Carabao Cup from December 12 to January 2. How many of those Sergio Aguero will play is open to question given his knee troubles.
Aguero, who featured for 12 minutes against Olympiakos last Wednesday in his first outing since October, was not able to train yesterday owing to what Guardiola described as a “disturbance in the striker’s knee”. The boss said it was “nothing serious”, but Aguero’s fitness is clearly a concern, although not one that will see them dip into the transfer market in January for back up.