Pep Guardiola reveals what he said during animated on-pitch team talk with Stefan Ortega after Man City collapse
Pep Guardiola says he offered praise for Stefan Ortega despite screaming at him after Manchester City surrendered a two-goal lead at Brentford. Phil Foden scored two goals in the second half in west London to set the reigning Premier League champions on course for three points. Christian Norgaard’s late goal saw City crumble at BrentfordGetty Guardiola appeared to be raging with Ortega@OptusSport X However, Yoane Wissa reduced the deficit in the final ten minutes before Christian Norgaard levelled the scoring in stoppage-time. City goalkeeper Ortega got a hand onto the Brentford man’s header but was unable to keep it out of his goal as the points were shared. The 32-year-old, who filled in for the benched Ederson, appeared to be on the receiving end of a frustrated rant from Guardiola. Footage shows the City boss shouting and screaming at Ortega at the full-time whistle. Guardiola screamed and then hugged the goalkeeper three times in what was a contrast of emotions. One angle shows the Spaniard looking particularly incensed but he and Ortega calmly walked away from each other at the end. However when speaking afterwards, Guardiola revealed what he said to Ortega and insisted it was praise: “[Josko Gvardiol] played incredible! I was satisfied! The same with [Ortega]. “I said how good he played, the actions with the ball, the pass to Erling [Haaland], how happy and satisfied I am, especially with these two players and what they have done…” It’s not the first time he has become visibly animated with his players, with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland both getting a talking to on the pitch. Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke got words of wisdom in November, while Southampton’s Nathan Redmond got a passionate talking to in 2017. Guardiola did also hug the goalkeeper despite his frustration@OptusSport X After a dismal run of form towards the end of 2024, City appeared to turn a corner with recent results thanks to three-conservative wins. However, their attempts to climb further up the Premier League table have taken another hit with the result at Brentford. A win would have taken them fifth and level on points with Chelsea, who have a superior goal difference. But they will now rue their late mistakes away at the Bees, with the draw denting their title defence hopes even further. Foden offered an explanation for their collapse when he told TNT Sports after: “We just looked tired at the end, the last 20, 30 minutes. We looked leggy and they put the pressure on and put longer balls into the box. “We didn’t cope with the physicality at the end. It’s one of the toughest places to come and they give you different challenges. “I was happy with the performance up until we went 1-0 up and then after that we let our performance slip and gave the ball away. It’s something to learn from. They gave us a challenge today and we did the best we could.” City will hope to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday then they travel to Ipswich Town. Wisser, meanwhile, has got himself ready for the visit of Liverpool on Saturday by writing his name into the history books. His goal against City saw him overtake Ivan Toney as Brentford’s top scoring Premier League player with 37 goals. Match Stats
Pep Guardiola says he offered praise for Stefan Ortega despite screaming at him after Manchester City surrendered a two-goal lead at Brentford.
Phil Foden scored two goals in the second half in west London to set the reigning Premier League champions on course for three points.
However, Yoane Wissa reduced the deficit in the final ten minutes before Christian Norgaard levelled the scoring in stoppage-time.
City goalkeeper Ortega got a hand onto the Brentford man’s header but was unable to keep it out of his goal as the points were shared.
The 32-year-old, who filled in for the benched Ederson, appeared to be on the receiving end of a frustrated rant from Guardiola.
Footage shows the City boss shouting and screaming at Ortega at the full-time whistle.
Guardiola screamed and then hugged the goalkeeper three times in what was a contrast of emotions.
One angle shows the Spaniard looking particularly incensed but he and Ortega calmly walked away from each other at the end.
However when speaking afterwards, Guardiola revealed what he said to Ortega and insisted it was praise: “[Josko Gvardiol] played incredible! I was satisfied! The same with [Ortega].
“I said how good he played, the actions with the ball, the pass to Erling [Haaland], how happy and satisfied I am, especially with these two players and what they have done…”
It’s not the first time he has become visibly animated with his players, with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland both getting a talking to on the pitch.
Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke got words of wisdom in November, while Southampton’s Nathan Redmond got a passionate talking to in 2017.
After a dismal run of form towards the end of 2024, City appeared to turn a corner with recent results thanks to three-conservative wins.
However, their attempts to climb further up the Premier League table have taken another hit with the result at Brentford.
A win would have taken them fifth and level on points with Chelsea, who have a superior goal difference.
But they will now rue their late mistakes away at the Bees, with the draw denting their title defence hopes even further.
Foden offered an explanation for their collapse when he told TNT Sports after: “We just looked tired at the end, the last 20, 30 minutes. We looked leggy and they put the pressure on and put longer balls into the box.
“We didn’t cope with the physicality at the end. It’s one of the toughest places to come and they give you different challenges.
“I was happy with the performance up until we went 1-0 up and then after that we let our performance slip and gave the ball away. It’s something to learn from. They gave us a challenge today and we did the best we could.”
City will hope to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday then they travel to Ipswich Town.
Wisser, meanwhile, has got himself ready for the visit of Liverpool on Saturday by writing his name into the history books.
His goal against City saw him overtake Ivan Toney as Brentford’s top scoring Premier League player with 37 goals.
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