Pep Guardiola explains what prompted Sergio Aguero touchline row – Man City

Pep Guardiola insists he and Sergio Aguero are friends again after they had a touchline row during Manchester City’s draw with Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium.

The Argentine striker was preferred to Gabriel Jesus to start the clash and he rewarded his manager with an astute finish to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.

However, the pair exchanged angry words on the sidelines when Aguero was substituted for Jesus midway through the second half, shortly after Lucas Moura had levelled things up for Spurs.

The incident dragged on for an awkward amount of time, with Mikel Arteta playing the role of peacekeeper.

The pair later embraced on the pitch after the match ended 2-2, and Guardiola explained what prompted the bust-up.

He said: “Aguero believed I was upset with him for the goal we conceded. The goal we conceded was a corner.

“I wanted one on one movement. He thought I was upset with him.

“I am sometimes exaggerated on the touchline but few times am I upset with the players.

“I was a football player, I know what it is like to be in there. Emotion is part of our game. We talked after and during. He’s a guy I love a lot.”

City thought they had snatched a late winner when Jesus struck, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR due to a handball in the build-up.

The scenes as the goal was chalked off were reminiscent of the dramatic ending to last season’s Champions League tie between the two sides at the same venue last season.

Under this season’s clarified handball rules, the decision was correct. However, Guardiola has not forgotten that Spurs’ Fernando Llorente was awarded a goal against City despite it hitting his arm in the Champions League last season.

City boss Guardiola said: “If it’s hands it’s hands but why was (it) not hands with Llorente last season and why is it hands today?

“But always we have to live with the decision in these situations. It is what it is, accept it. It will make us stronger.

“We played better today than the second best team in Europe. When people say you can do better – better than this I don’t know if it is possible.

“We conceded just two shots on target against this team, with the quality they have. We created a lot to score goals. We played incredibly, (one of) the best games in our time together. We were so good.

“Unfortunately we could not win but we will prepare for the next. It is just the beginning.”

Source: talksport