Pep Guardiola defends Jack Grealish’s on-field talk after Arsenal draw: ‘I do it for the cameras!’

Redaction Willow Austin
Published on 2024-04-02 13:23:06

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has addressed criticisms about his on-field discussions with Jack Grealish after the 0-0 draw with Arsenal.

The Premier League champions are currently in third place, three points behind leaders Liverpool, following the stalemate with their title rivals on Sunday afternoon.

The 0-0 draw with Mikel Arteta’s players was not without the want of trying, as Pep Guardiola made a rare double substitution in the second-half by introducing Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku in an attempt to break down Arsenal’s six-man defensive line.

Unfortunately for the hosts, no such breakthrough was to come, and Guardiola was keen to offer tactical advice to both players after the final whistle in full view of television cameras on the field, with his instructions for the former receiving some criticism in the media.

When quizzed on the interaction and why he felt it necessary to pull Grealish in particular aside on the pitch after the game in front of TV crews, the Manchester City boss responded during his pre-Aston Villa press conference, “Yeah, I do it for the cameras, for my ego.”

Continuing in typical sarcastic Pep Guardiola fashion, the Catalan coach continued, “No I’m the famous person in the team, and I don’t get recognised and I need the cameras for my ego to go to sleep with incredibly satisfaction.

“So that is the reason why. Always I try to criticise the players there and let them feel how bad they are, and especially when Erling (Haaland) scores three goals the compliments has to be with me. Not with them.”

He continued, “That’s why I use the cameras to do it there. My advice next time is don’t film us and it will not be a problem.”