Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has opted to hold back from criticizing the referee after David Silva alleviated his frustrations with a late winner at Hoffenheim.
City had been controversially denied a penalty after Leroy Sane was felled by goalkeeper Oliver Baumann in the area. That angered Guardiola and he still seemed annoyed as he was seen shouting in the direction of the fourth official after the final whistle.
The City boss had only just returned to the touchline after serving a suspension for the Group F opener against Lyon a fortnight ago. He still has a suspended one-game ban hanging over him for his sending-off against Liverpool last season. It was perhaps with that in mind that he tempered his emotions before speaking to media.
“I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk about officials,” said Guardiola, who was also spoken to earlier in the game by Slovenian referee Damir Skomina after encroaching onto the field to complain about another decision. 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.”
Silva struck three minutes from time as City snatched a 2-1 victory at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Tuesday night and secured their first points in this season’s Champions League.