Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologized, saying he is “embarrassed” and “ashamed” after confronting a cameraman following his team’s frustrating 2-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Furious over several disputed refereeing decisions, Guardiola marched onto the pitch and pulled the headphones off a cameraman to speak into his ear. “I apologized,” Guardiola said, explaining his actions were driven by a desire to “defend my team and my club.”
The incident overshadowed a contentious match, which included flare-ups involving players and an exchange between Guardiola and Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Guardiola must now refocus his team for a crucial Champions League match on Tuesday against Bayer Leverkusen.
The game will be his 100th in the competition as City manager, a tournament he described as “massively important” for the club, despite noting that there have been “more disappointments than good moments.”
Defender Josko Gvardiol also reflected on last season’s trophy drought, calling it “the worst season I ever had in my career.”
