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Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola reveals what he said to goalkeeper Stefan Ortega in animated chat after 2-2 draw with Brentford

Guardiola also explained that due to a lot of key personnel missing from their squad, City did not have the kind of players capable of defending the type of balls Brentford were putting in their box.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola having an animated conversation with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. (Credit: X/OptusSport Screengrabs)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was seen having an animated conversation with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after the final whistle in the match against Brentford after the defending champions threw away a 2-0 lead to end the match at 2-2.

“I said how good he played in actions with the ball, how good his pass (was) to Erling (Haaland), how happy and satisfied I am,” Guardiola said after he was asked what had transpired between him and the goalie.

“What I missed today especially was that we didn’t take the right decision in the final third, in the actions where we could run, long balls we won and we could run, and in that moment we didn’t take the right decisions. I give credit to them, Brentford has always been a really, really tough opponent … they are an honest team, they are a generous team, I like the way they play, but today we created a lot,” he added.

Pep Guardiola GOES OFF at Stefan Ortega after Manchester City blew a two-goal lead 😡

Watch 📲 https://t.co/pw74sTKZ7u pic.twitter.com/r4ju4KX6zq

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) January 14, 2025

Guardiola also explained that due to a lot of key personnel missing from their squad, City did not have the kind of players capable of defending the type of balls Brentford were putting in their box.

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“We have another type of player right now, and at the end we could not defend that situation. They put six, seven players in the box, crosses, and sometimes they are better, so there are more players, they are taller, they are stronger in (heading),” he said.

City looked to be on course of a 4th straight win in all competition with Phil Foden smashing in 2 goals against Brentford on Wednesday. But their defence could not cope with the late surge by the Bees with Yoane Wissa pulling one back for the hosts in the 82nd minute and Christian Norgaard heading the equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time.