Nathan Redmond is the latest Premier League footballer to call out The Sun for thinking they can completely make something up and go unchallenged for it, as he issued a statement in the wake of Wednesday night's incident with Pep Guardiola.
The Man City manager could be seen aggressively remonstrating with Southampton winger Redmond seconds after the final whistle at The Ethiad, and while it looked like Pep was having a proper go at the England U21 international, it turned out that he was offering passionate encouragement for Redmond to play in a more attacking style as he is such a good player.
Over at The Sun, they decided that it would be better for them if Pep had called Redmond a 'wanker' so they hired a professional lip-reader who didn't mind being quoted spouting a load of nonsense.
On Thursday evening, Redmond took a screenshot of the false reports and Tweeted them alongside a statement that cleared everything up regarding the very unusual incident.
Just to clear a few things up for those wondering. Funny old game isn’t it. pic.twitter.com/xUSr99MVeE
— Redz (@NathanRedmond22) November 30, 2017
I've just seen this story and felt I had to say something and clear a few things that are floating around right now. I want to make it absolutely clear that the Man City Manager, Pep Guardiola did not say what The Sun is falsely claiming in this story. Yes he was very passionate, intense and aggressive but he was only very complimentary and positive to me. He commented on my qualities as a young English player and how he wanted me to attack his team more during the game in a similar way to last season. I told him I was doing what my Manager had asked me to do in the game. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing negative or offensive was said towards me from Pep and that's what makes him one of the best Manager's in world football.
Losing the game the way we did in the last kick of the game after working so hard for 90+ minutes I was very disappointment but when one of the worlds best managers compliments you or gives advice in any way, you listen.
Sadly this story is an example of lazy journalism and is a complete joke. It does no favours to the sports journalists in the game that I like, happily work with and genuinely respect.
The focus for me now is regrouping with the Saints ready for a big performance this Sunday in the v Bournemouth. #WeMarchOn #SaintsFC
That settles that then.
Pep Guardiola is one fo the most intense men in the history of football, but he's a good bloke at the end of the day.
Not sure how delighted Mauricio Pellegrino will be to see other managers demanding more from his players, but that's another issue.
