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Pep Guardiola spoke about refereeing conspiracies and Rodri's comments in the aftermath of Manchester City's draw with Tottenham
Pep Guardiola defended Rodri as he played down the idea of a refereeing conspiracy against Manchester City. The Blues boss stands by his beliefs that his team have been on the end of a number of poor calls from the officials in recent weeks, but told his players they cannot use it as an excuse.
City's manager has raged at refereeing decisions a number of times in recent weeks, angry at controversial calls that he thinks have not helped them when dropping crucial Premier League points against Newcastle, Brighton and United and even in the win over Wolves. A lengthy delay with a divisive ruling in the Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle also upset Guardiola.
He was calmer about Dominic Solanke's opening goal to start the Tottenham comeback in the 2-2 draw against City on Sunday, even if he expressed at the time that it was a foul. As Guardiola was pouring water onto that fire in the press conference, Rodri was elsewhere with the oil as the midfielder said he had to speak up because 'referees have to be neutral' even if 'people do not want us to win'.
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Guardiola shut down the notion of a refereeing conspiracy against his team as they prepare for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle. However, he still thinks Marc Guehi was fouled for the Tottenham goal and is happy that everyone can make their own mind up with all of the images.
"Absolutely not. Of course there aren’t meetings between the referees about how they can punish Man City. I’ve never said that," he said. "I’m saying that despite all the circumstances that happened…if the people are saying that the laws say the right decision was given, as Sky said. The guy was interesting by saying 'it was a foul' and now saying 'after watching more and more, it’s not'. I don’t know, I’m not a referee and never will be.
"Marc has the ball under control and is kicked from behind and makes an own goal. Solanke didn’t score, Marc scored. He was kicked and a goal. If people believe this should be allowed then it is fine. I’m not in agreement but nothing changes."
Rodri's comments have been criticised for suggesting that referees were not being fair with City. Guardiola had sympathy for a player being frustrated immediately after a game where the team have dropped points in, but needs his side to focus on being better themselves rather than moaning about referees.
"In that moment you can feel the situations, when you finish the game and go (to the interviews). How many years with Rodri here? Seven years? Always I’ve said we have to do better. He knows it. Second half score more goals, control ourselves in the second halves a little bit better. That is for sure. That is the message.
"But the images are there. You can agree or disagree. Nothing is going to change, right? For me it is a foul and for you it is not. It’s fine. That’s why football is what it is. I’m not suspicious.
"We have to focus on what we have to do. That's why we won. I won with my team - 13 or 14 [trophies] - because the excuses were completely out. Last season showed that - no one went on about it. It was not really good. It was on ourselves.
"Here we don’t blame for one day - it’s on our shoulders. Here we have to do better, we have to find a way - like now. Do you think in the second half [the reason] we drop is for the referees? No. The players know it every single day. But it's a fact that what happened this season."
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