2026-02-02 16:31:31

Pep Guardiola has criticised the refereeing after Manchester City drew with Tottenham Hotspur.

The manager was frustrated after seeing his team miss a huge chance to stay close to Premier League leaders Arsenal, despite going 2-0 up before a collapse.

First, Spurs brought one back when Dominik Solanke kicked through the back of City’s Marc Guehi to nab a goal.

However, neither the referee nor the VAR team thought there was enough in the challenge to rule out the goal.

Solanke’s volley secured a huge draw for Spurs, while leaving City six points behind the Gunners.

Speaking after the game when it was suggested Solanke kicked Guehi, Pep told BBC Radio 5 Live: “OK, then you make the answer [for me].

“If it’s a central defender to a striker it’s a penalty, right? You said the same, so you saw it.”

Speaking to media in his press conference, Pep discussed the issue further.

He added: “There was an ­emotional issue for the first goal that the referee conceded to Spurs … and after that, the momentum is ­difficult to control, whatever happens here in England.”

In recent weeks, Pep has complained about referee decisions against Newcastle, Manchester United and Wolves.

He said: “Nothing changed the opinion I had in the past.”

Spurs manager Thomas Frank acknowledged the situation and insisted it was in a “grey area” for officials.

He said: “There’s clear contact from him [Solanke] on it. We want, in general, a higher ­threshold [for fouls]. I understand it’s in the grey area.

“The Liverpool goal by Hugo ­Ekitiké [against Spurs on ­ December 20] was in my opinion still two clear hands in the back of Cristian Romero.

“So it’s no grey areas [there]. I’m just very happy it finally dropped for us, which I think was more than fair.”

On Wednesday (04.02.26), City host Newcastle United in the second leg of the League Cup semi-finals, with a 2-0 lead from the first tie.

Their next Premier League game is a tense showdown against Liverpool at Anfield, while Arsenal – who are leading Chelsea 3-2 from the first leg of their own semi-final – will get back to league caption on February 7 against Sunderland.

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