Pep Guardiola in a heated post-match exchange
Image credit: EuroFoot
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola didn’t hold back after his team squandered a 2-0 lead against Brentford, drawing 2-2 in a dramatic Premier League clash.
The Bees scored twice in the final ten minutes, with Christian Norgaard’s stoppage-time equalizer leaving City stunned and their three-match winning streak in tatters.
A visibly animated Guardiola was seen in a heated post-match exchange with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who has stepped in as City’s first-choice keeper following Ederson’s injury.
🚨🔵 Guardiola and Ortega after Man City's 2-2 draw against Brentford. (@OptusSport) pic.twitter.com/kJbzsi2jzd
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 14, 2025
Despite Ortega’s solid performances, he couldn’t prevent Brentford’s late onslaught, getting a hand to Norgaard’s strike but failing to stop it.
Guardiola, known for his high standards, expressed disappointment with his team’s inability to close out the game. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said:
We’re a bit disappointed, but at 2-0 up, we didn’t manage to hold on to the lead, and unfortunately, we couldn’t close the game. Today we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third. I had the feeling that we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third to close the game.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by key absences in the squad, adding:
With the absence of the central defenders, Rodri, with many things, we are not [at our best], and we didn’t take the right decisions. It’s fine; it’s not a good place to come. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win.
This draw continues a worrying trend for City, who have struggled to maintain leads in recent months. Guardiola admitted his frustration:
I can’t explain why this keeps happening. Scoring first should put us in control, but we’ve been unable to convert those into wins, and it’s hurting our campaign.
Despite the setback, Guardiola remains focused on steadying the ship as City aim to reclaim their dominance in the league.