Pep Guardiola, Manchester City coach, responded sarcastically to accusations that he got angry with Jack Grealish for giving a show in front of the cameras and assured that he does it for his ego and because he is “the most famous person on the team.”
The Spanish coach scolded Grealish on the pitch after the goalless draw against Arsenal last Sunday, which earned him criticism that this should be done in the locker room and not publicly.
“I do it for the cameras, for my ego. I am the most famous person on the team and if it is recorded I can sleep peacefully because I leave satisfied,” Guardiola said in a clear tone of sarcasm.
“I always try to criticize the players and make them feel how bad they are and, if there is any compliment, let it be for me, not for the players,” he added this Monday at a press conference before facing Aston Villa.
Guardiola’s words coincide with the premiere of the documentary on the Netflix platform that reviews the treble achieved by Manchester City last season.
At the gates of the match against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, the coach stated that he is not surprised by the Basque coach’s success and described the work he has done in Birmingham as “excellent.”
Manchester City and Aston Villa will face each other this Wednesday in the Premier League after Emery’s men took the victory at Villa Park 1-0 in the first leg. “It’s the only game we deserved to lose,” Guardiola said this Wednesday.
“Emery’s Aston Villa is excellent. The way they play… Unai has a consistency every season. They have been impressive and it is not a surprise, due to their quality, that of the coaching staff and that of the team.”
“I haven’t seen all their games, but I think they will maintain the same system and their ideas. They are very good at set pieces and transitions, with two very fast players up front. They have a great back line and an exceptional goalkeeper “That’s why they are where they are.”
City is, at the moment, third in the Premier table, with 64 points, one less than Arsenal, against whom they drew 0-0 this Sunday, and three less than Liverpool.
