Pep Guardiola Says Manchester City Will Stop Obediently Reacting to Referee Commands After Arsenal Controversy
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has sent out a clear message to Michael Oliver and the referees community – his team will not be following their orders on the pitch anymore. Yes, you read that right!
The Spanish tactician made these comments in light of the controversy surrounding Monday night’s 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal. Oliver made a few decisions that rankled the City players and coaching staff, including an alleged lack of punishment meted out to Erling Haaland for barging into Thomas Partey towards the end of the encounter.
Guardiola has said that his team will become less obedient to referee instruction from now on. Addressing the media, Pep stated, "Next time, when the referee asks the captains to talk to them, we will not go. Because we have to go to our positions." He added, "At the same time, you have to avoid the quick pass. We know they play quick. We have to organise better the defence, or situations like that happen."
City star Kyle Walker was equally irritated by Oliver’s decisions on the night. The 32-year-old confronted Oliver in the tunnel at halftime, as reported by BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, and later spoke up about the referee’s leniency towards Arsenal defenders.
Walker, the reigning Premier League champion, reasoned that if Oliver was seeking his input, he could at least let him position himself properly before restarting the play. "If I was a goalkeeper, would he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence, so he should let me get back in and set myself," he told the BBC.
A Move Towards More Proactive Engagement
Guardiola’s declarations can be seen as the culmination of a growing tendency for Manchester City to assume more control over the outcomes of their matches. On one hand, this refusal to blindly follow referee advice may lead to a healthier understanding between the players, the coaching staff, and the officials. On the other hand, it remains to be seen whether Olvier and his peers might react negatively to the power play.
As we proceed, it will be worthwhile monitoring how this stance bears out in future matches – specifically, how Manchester City execute their new approach to adversity on the pitch.
What’s Next?
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Your opinions are valuable to us. Share your thoughts: Would you agree with the way Manchester City is protesting Oliver’s decisions? Might their stance lead to negative repercussions?