Pep Guardiola was pleased with how his side performed in Germany Pep Guardiola called Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League comeback win at Hoffenheim “one of my happiest days” at Manchester City, but refused to be drawn on the performances of the officials. Hoffenheim went ahead after 44 seconds as Ishak Belfodil swept home, before Sergio Aguero got Man City level not long after. David Silva snatched the victory in the 87th minute after a mistake from defender Stefan Posch.
The result secured City’s first points of their Champions League campaign after defeat to Lyon a fortnight ago and Guardiola hopes the difficult nature of the first two games will prove of long-term benefit.
“After one minute we conceded and it’s not easy, but after that we fought, as always, as a team,” he said. “The previous two seasons were not simple, but we qualified with games left and this time it’s not going to happen.
“Maybe for the future it’s going to be good to live these kind of situations. You cannot go through to quarters, semis, without living these situations. That’s why today is one of the happiest days I’ve had in this club because it’s going to help us.”
Guardiola was back on the touchline for his side’s second match in Group F after serving a ban for the opener, but he risked further sanction as he remonstrated with referee Damir Skomina during the 2-1 win.
The City boss was first spoken to by Skomina after encroaching onto the field to complain after David Silva was prevented from taking a quick throw-in. He was then incensed late in the game after Leroy Sane was denied a penalty – when the score was still 1-1 – for what seemed a foul by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Guardiola still has a one-match suspended ban hanging over him after he was punished for his protests during last season’s quarter-final defeat against Liverpool, and when asked about the officials after the game, he added: “I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk about officials.
Guardiola was spoken to by referee by Damir Skomina during the game
“I want to be with my players in the next games. I know what happened against Monaco at home and against Liverpool last season. I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk about officials.”
Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann was happy with how his team played, despite going down to late defeat, saying: “Tactically, I saw a very good performance from my team, who created chances against a world-class team.
“It was really impressive how we came out after half-time. We created some good moments going forward and doing that against a side like Manchester City is something we can b
uild on.”