Pep Guardiola made a sarcastic comment about his love for the cameras as Manchester City prepare to face Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Often, the Catalan tactician is spotted engaging in heated post-match exchanges with his players, like with Grealish after City’s 0-0 draw against Arsenal.
However, Guardiola’s antics are not appreciated by everyone.
Pep Guardiola sarcastically claims his post-match exchanges with players are all for “the cameras”
After Manchester City succumbed to a draw against Arsenal, Richard Keys slammed the decorated manager for giving Jack Grealish post-match instructions on beIN SPORTS.
Keys claimed that Guardiola should reserve such instructions for when he returns to the dressing room rather than airing out his grievances with a player in public.
The popular broadcaster felt the Spaniard’s habit stems from him simply wishing to grab headlines.
After Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was quizzed about why he decided to hand instructions to players like Jack Grealish right after games, he was as sarcastic as can be.
“Yeah, I do it for the cameras, for my ego”, he said [via HaytersTV].
Guardiola continued, “No, I’m the famous person of the team and I don’t recognise and I need the cameras to my ego, go to sleep with incredible satisfaction so that is the reason why. So, always I try to criticise the players there and let them feel how bad they are.”
“And especially when Erling [Haaland] scores three goals, the compliments has to be with me. That’s why I use cameras to do it there. So, my advice next time, don’t film us, it will not be a problem.”
Instead of giving a serious answer about the instructions he was giving to Jack Grealish or why he has this habit in the first place, Pep Guardiola chose to be sarcastic.
Brilliant answer from Guardiola
Ultimately, high-profile figures in sports like Guardiola will always be a topic of conversation, regardless of whether it is a positive or a negative reason.
The discourse around them is endless and ever-changing.
As a result, Pep Guardiola leaned into the claims made about him giving post-match advice to Jack Grealish by being sarcastic.
Ultimately, regardless of what Guardiola had said instead, it would have created headlines and as a result, sometimes, perhaps he feels it is better to see the funny side of things instead of trying to justify what several other coaches also do after games.