Guardiola: I didn’t insult ref, I just said it was a goal

PEP GUARDIOLA hit out at referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz after he was sent off as Liverpool beat Manchester City to reach the Champions League semi-finals last night. Jurgen Klopp’s side handed City their third defeat in a week to win 5-1 on aggregate. Having voiced concerns about Mateu Lahoz before the game, Guardiola was incensed that the Spanish referee disallowed a second City goal for offside, when the ball came e off Liverpool’s James Milner before Leroy Sane put it in the net. ‘He’s a referee who likes to feel different,’ said Guardiola, who was sent to the stands after criticising Mateu Lahoz on the pitch at half-time. ‘He’s special. When everybody sees the things, he is going to see the opposite. ‘We spoke about it, we know him. It’s too much to send (me) off because I didn’t say any wrong word. I didn’t insult him him. I just said it itwas was a goal. goal When the ball comes from Milner it’s not offside. When you go to half-time 2-0 and not 1-0, it’s completely different against that side.’ Guardiola feels City were the victims of poor decisions throughout the tie after Gabriel Jesus had a goal ruled out in a 3-0 first-leg defeat while there was a suspicion of offside against Mo Salah’s Anfield opener. ‘In these kind of games the impact is big,’ he added. ‘The first goal at Our red-letter day: Dejan Lovren posted this scene of joy from the dressing room on social media Anfield is offside from Salah and the goal from G Gabriel Jesus is a goal. ‘T ‘Tonight it is not offside an and it is a penalty on (R (Raheem) Sterling from (A (Andrew) Robertson in fro front of the fourth of official. But I want to say big congratulations for go going through and I hope the they can defend English foo football in the semi-finals, the they are a top team and a top manager.’ Klopp promised that Liverpool will go all out for their sixth European Cup after joining Roma in the semis. ‘We deserved it,’ said Klopp. ‘The other teams will have their targets as well, but we will meet them in the semis. We are not without ambitions. A normal semi-final could have been Barcelona v City but they’re both out. I think City are the best team in the world at the moment but I knew we could beat them.’