Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 win today in the FA Cup against Cardiff City thanks to a clever Kevin de Bruyne free-kick and a Raheem Sterling goal. However, manager Pep Guardiola was far from happy.
Guardiola was an agitated figure on the sideline as his side failed to develop any real monument in the second-half. He reserved particular anger for referee Lee Mason for what he perceived to be a failure to protect his players.
Pep made his feelings clear at full-time.
? Reaction ? https://t.co/b4CJ2uC95u #bbcfacup #CARMCI pic.twitter.com/il2rkSjF2j
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 28, 2018
Guardiola could well have a point. While Cardiff's Joe Bennett was sent-off at the death, Mason only issued a yellow card for a really poor challenge on City's Leroy Sane. Sane was taken off at half-time and is set to be out for a considerable stretch due to an ankle injury.
Cardiff City’s Joe Bennett stopping Leroy Sane finish off a Man City counterattack #WellInSon #CARMCI #CCFC #MCFC pic.twitter.com/AhjNOpaxEZ
— Top Tackles (@TopTackles) January 28, 2018
When speaking in his post-match press conference, Guardiola said:
All I ask is that the referee protects the players, not the Man City players, just the players. That's all I ask from the people in football, please. It's difficult for every team to win this kind of game. I know my players, it was many.
Any team can play how they want but the referee must decide what is correct or incorrect. I just ask that he protects the players.
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock had little sympathy for Guardiola's position.
Warnock on Guardiola's unhappiness at tackles: "He's in England. They did a few as well."
— Jonathan Smith (@jonnysmiffy) January 28, 2018
