Pep Guardiola Criticizes Referee After Rodri’s Red Card in Manchester City Win Over Nottingham Forest
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was left angry and frustrated after Rodri was sent off in his side’s win over Nottingham Forest. Guardiola also criticized referee Anthony Taylor for his performance in the match, which saw 10 players booked and a yellow card shown to Guardiola himself.
Rodri was dismissed for violent conduct after grabbing Morgan Gibbs-White around the throat at the start of the second half, and faces a three-match ban that rules him out of City’s crucial clash at title rivals Arsenal on 8 October.
Guardiola said the game had been perfect for 35 minutes for both sides, but that Taylor had changed the game with all the yellow cards. He said that responsibility for the chaos did not lie with either team, and that Rodri had apologized to his team-mates for his red card.
The City boss also compared the incident to Kyle Walker’s dismissal in Champions League against RB Leipzig in the 2021-22 season, saying that Rodri had to learn to control his emotions. He said that while he could get a yellow card, Rodri could not, and that he had warned his players to be careful at half-time.
“I am angry, because I don’t like playing with 10 men,” Guardiola said. “Whatever happens, you have to control yourself.”
The incident has put a dampener on City’s win over Forest, with the team now facing a tough battle against Arsenal without one of their key players. It is yet another example of how important it is for players to keep their emotions in check on the pitch, as any momentary lapse of judgement can have serious consequences.
It remains to be seen how Guardiola and his team will cope without Rodri for the next three matches, but one thing is certain – they will have to be extra careful not to get into any more trouble with the referee.
With Guardiola’s criticism of Taylor’s performance, it will be interesting to see how the referee responds in future matches involving Manchester City. It is clear that Guardiola is not afraid to voice his opinion when he feels it is warranted, and this incident is sure to be remembered for some time.