Pep Guardiola expressed frustration with the Spanish referees after Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw in Monaco, due to a controversial last-minute penalty decision. The penalty, awarded by referee Jesús Gil Manzano after reviewing the situation via VAR, came from a high boot by City’s Nico González on Eric Dier. Guardiola, however, chose not to engage with the specifics of the decision and instead made a general remark about Spanish officials. His response echoed past tensions with Spanish referees, especially recalling his difficult experiences with Antonio Mateu Lahoz, a referee known for making controversial decisions in City’s previous Champions League encounters.
Despite dominating much of the match, City were unable to secure all three points. Erling Haaland’s double had given them the lead twice, but Monaco responded strongly. Jordan Teze’s equalizer and Dier’s late penalty secured a point for the French side, leaving Guardiola disappointed with the result.
“We played a really good game,” Guardiola said in the post-match interview. “We had many chances and Phil [Foden] in the first half could have given us the lead. Many of the players performed well, and we conceded almost nothing defensively. But in football, you have to win with the result, and we couldn’t. When it’s tight like this, you have to defend better.”
Haaland’s impressive brace took his Champions League tally to 52 goals in 50 appearances, but the Norwegian striker was far from satisfied with the team’s overall performance. “It isn’t good enough,” he admitted. “We have to try and win the next game. We needed more energy and to be more aggressive, especially after taking the lead. We didn’t do that, and that’s not good enough.”
Guardiola’s comments on the penalty, while diplomatic, acknowledged the challenge faced by his team. “I didn’t see it, but if you kick someone in the face, it’s probably a penalty,” he noted. The decision ultimately cost Manchester City two valuable points in their bid to top the group. While Guardiola remains confident in his team’s progression, he emphasized the need for better concentration and finishing in future matches.
The draw in Monaco leaves Manchester City needing to recover in their upcoming fixtures as they look to maintain their momentum in the Champions League.
