‘I feel embarrassed, ashamed’ – Guardiola apologises to cameraman

NEWCASTLE: PEP Guardiola says he is sorry for his confrontation with a cameraman following Manchester City’s Premier League defeat at Newcastle on Saturday.

City felt they were on the wrong end of a penalty call, a handball shout and a tight offside decision in the 2-1 loss at St James’ Park, which left Guardiola furious at full-time.

The Spaniard marched onto the pitch at the end, speaking with referee Sam Barrott, while he also pulled the headphones off of a cameraman to say something into his ear.

“I apologised,” Guardiola said of the incident but did not reveal what was said.

“I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman. I am who I am.

“After 1,000 games I’m not a perfect person, I make huge mistakes. The reason why is I want to defend my team and my club.”

There were flare-ups involving the players too, with City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma being ushered down the tunnel and Magpies midfielder Joelinton being held back by his manager Eddie Howe, while Guardiola also had words to say to Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Guardiola added: “We have known Bruno for many, many years and every time after the game, even at the Etihad, we talk in the tunnel or wherever we talk, always. I don’t know what happened.

“Our paths always cross and I always have a good relationship with him. I love it. I’m an emotional guy, I love to talk and move my hands and my arms and everything.”

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City host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday, aiming to maintain their unbeaten start.

They are fourth in the group phase table and victory against the Bundesliga side will consolidate their place in the top eight as they seek a direct path knockout stages.

The contest will be Guardiola’s 100th as City manager in the competition, with the crowning moment coming in 2023 when they lifted the trophy after beating Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul.

But they have also had near misses, losing the 2021 final to Chelsea and being beaten by Real Madrid in the semi-finals the following year when the La Liga giants scored three late goals in the second leg.