Pep Guardiola has clarified the intense on-pitch conversation he had with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega following Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Brentford.
Despite appearing to berate Ortega after the match, Guardiola insisted he was expressing praise rather than frustration.
Phil Foden’s second-half brace had put the reigning Premier League champions in control, but late goals from Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard denied City all three points.
Ortega, filling in for the benched Ederson, managed to get a hand to Norgaard’s stoppage-time equalizer but was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
At full-time, cameras captured an animated Guardiola gesturing emphatically at Ortega before embracing him multiple times.
Addressing the interaction post-match, Guardiola said, “I told him how good he played. His actions with the ball, the pass to Erling [Haaland]—I’m happy and satisfied, especially with him and [Josko Gvardiol]. They played incredible.”
The draw at Brentford further hampers City’s title defense.
A victory would have taken them level on points with Chelsea in fifth, but the late collapse has left them ruing missed opportunities.