Sports

UCL: Pep Guardiola explains why he screamed at Mahrez, Grealish during Leipzig win

Published

3 years ago

September 16, 2021

It was Guardiola’s 87th victory in the competition, overtaking legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger into third place.

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said he was unhappy with Riyad Mahrez for ignoring his half-time instructions during their 6-3 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League..

The game was also the highest-scoring European game of the Spaniard’s career, with Nathan Ake, Jack Grealish, Joao Cancelo, Gabriel Jesus and Mahrez all getting on the scoresheet.

Despite his side netting six goals, in the 63rd minute with City 4-2 ahead, Guardiola called Mahrez over and berated him, screaming in his face.

Grealish also received similar treatment from the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.

When asked why he was so unhappy with Mahrez and Grealish, Guardiola told BT Sport: “We spoke in half-time about the way we had to do it and they didn’t do it. But it happens.

“They [Leipzig] are so good, they make four players in the build-up to attract you, and after they find you behind the holding midfielders, where there are a lot of players, when the ball goes outside put it inside.

“And after they are so fast to attack in behind. So it’s not absolutely easy to control it.”