Rodri apologized to his Manchester City teammates after being sent off during the win over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium, according to Pep Guardiola.
The defensive midfielder was sent off in the first minute of the second half after shoving Morgan Gibbs-White in the throat following a clash near the corner flag.
It left City, who were leading 2-0 at the time, hanging on as Steve Cooper sent on more and more attacking players, but the Blues held on to make it six consecutive Premier League triumphs.
However, while Guardiola stated that Rodri needed to learn to control his emotions after seeing red, he also criticized referee Anthony Taylor, who booked ten players in the game as well as dismissing Rodri and cautioning Guardiola.
Willy Boly escaped an early booking for taking down Erling Haaland, but Manuel Akanji was booked for dragging down Taiwo Awoniyi in a similar situation, which enraged Guardiola.
“In the first minute, Haaland goes alone to the goal and receives a yellow card [that isn’t given], the same guy makes an action to Rodri and receives a yellow card, and that would be the second yellow card.” “We get a yellow card after the first action,” Guardiola stated.
“It’s been eight years here, and we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well.” At halftime, I advised caution. Relax and keep your emotions under control.
Rodri, however, did not accomplish it. We must accept the verdict of the referee, whose name I do not know.
“Perhaps Rodri will learn. The game was ideal after 35 minutes for both sides striving, and when it went chaotic, it wasn’t our fault.
“Rodri must exert control over himself and his emotions.” Rodri, on the other hand, cannot receive a yellow card. I don’t participate in sports. You must exercise caution.”
Guardiola stated that the game altered after 35 minutes and that Taylor lost control of the situation, arguing that neither City nor Forest were to blame.
“The game was changed by the referee.” “I don’t understand why the first action wasn’t a yellow card and why the first action is a yellow card to us,” he explained.
“With all of the yellow cards, the responsibility is not Nottingham Forest’s or Manchester City’s, that’s for sure.”
Guardiola was booked after complaining about the decision to show Akanji a yellow card, but Rodri later apologized to his teammates.
He compared it to Kyle Walker being sent off against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in 2021/22, which resulted in him being barred from participating in parts of the knockout stages.
“It happened in Leipzig with Kyle. We were already qualified, but he was unavailable for the [last-16] round of the Champions League. Kyle learned from it,” he explained.
“Rodri is a fantastic player.” Kyle has done it before [apologies]. “They do it because of emotions,” Guardiola explained. “The trick is to keep your cool. I can’t stop myself from playing, but I don’t. Soon, I’ll be on the tribune and banned for receiving too many yellow cards.
“When I see something, it’s not a yellow card in the first action and it’s a yellow card after one counter, why is one not and one yes?” For us, having a center defender after one minute versus Erling, Julian, and Phil is an entirely different game. It’s not right. Why is this action not a yellow card, although the other is? I ask the officials why, and they don’t offer me an explanation.”
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