Pep Guardiola admits embarrassment after confrontation with cameraman
Pep Guardiola has expressed feelings of “embarrassment” and “shame” following footage of him addressing a broadcast cameraman during Manchester City’s 2–1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday night, admitting that his behaviour was inappropriate in the heated aftermath of the loss, reports BritPanorama.
The City manager confronted referee Sam Barrott and midfielder Bruno Guimarães before briefly directing his anger towards a Sky Sports cameraman who encroached on the scene. Television coverage appeared to show Guardiola lifting part of the cameraman’s headset to convey his frustration.
In remarks made before City’s Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, Guardiola said he promptly apologised for his actions. “I apologised,” he remarked. “I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman. I am who I am. After 1,000 games I’m not a perfect person, I make huge mistakes.”
His outburst was attributed to a deep-seated desire to defend his team, compounded by frustrations surrounding key refereeing decisions. Guardiola has maintained that to win the Premier League, a team must achieve around 100 points. However, City has already lost four league matches this season, rendering such a target increasingly challenging.
Guardiola’s irritation was further amplified by what he considered a missed penalty after a challenge on Phil Foden. “The referee was involved for 95 minutes, 98 minutes,” he stated, driving home his point about officiating throughout the match.
The manager acknowledged that setbacks are integral to football, insisting on the importance of resilience within his squad. “Sport is tough so not everything is flowers on the road or easy and comfortable,” he noted. “It’s part of who we are that builds as a team or a club. It’s important we live it.”
As City gears up for the Champions League match, they could face off against Claudio Echeverri, the highly-rated Argentine on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. However, Echeverri has struggled for playing time, remaining an unused substitute in seven of the last nine Bundesliga games, leading City to consider recalling him in January.
Guardiola addressed questions about potentially bringing Echeverri back early with a hint of sarcasm, directing frustrations towards external influences on the player’s development. “It is a question for his beautiful agent,” he quipped, referencing agent Enzo Montepaone.
Amid the turmoil, Guardiola’s reflections underline a significant truth in sport: the emotional stakes run high, and the line between passion and professionalism can quickly blur.
