When Man City boss Pep Guardiola lost the plot and we loved it

Football, it brings the best out of you but also the worst.

The ecstasy of scoring a winning goal or the agony of conceding one, it certainly isn’t the run of the mill – something Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola encapsulates magnificently.

Over the years since he’s been in the driving seat, steering City to numerous honours, we’ve seen the joy written across his face and also the verbal battering he gives his players. Albeit with a comforting arm around them after the full-time whistle.

Every manager has a certain style, some laid back, some intensely on top of their side. Guardiola tends to have a little bit of both.

Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool saw the latest in the spate of Pep anguish, joining a growing list of fits of rage against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Kevin de Bruyne, who is currently on international duty with Belgium, gave an insight into the man himself.

“He can be angrier after a 1-0 win in which we played badly, than after a defeat in which we played well, as was the case recently against PSG,” he told HLN.

Guardiola, as we know, is something special – a serial winner, a doyen of the tactics board. But his reactions to decisions are something else, aren’t they?

“It’s Anfield”

Where better to start than Sunday’s reaction.

With the scores level and both teams vying for the lead, Bernardo Silva nipped between a Jordan Henderson and James Milner sandwich, only to be brought down by the trailing leg of the already cautioned Milner.

It was a second yellow card and warranted the veteran midfielder having his marching orders but referee Paul Tierney kept his cards in his pocket.

Guardiola, incensed by the decision, launched himself off the bench in a fury. He then removed the latest take on the coatigan/jardigan (please do settle this argument in the comments, the City Is Ours desk is split) before continuing to parade the touchline, professing his point to the fourth official.

Mike Dean, of course, played his part to perfection – following the City boss’ display with a cold stare while emotionlessly chewing away on his gum.

Six to death of it

The opening game in this season’s Champions League group stage was an eventful one for City as nine goals rained in. Luckily for those in attendance at the Etihad, six were scored by the Blues.

Guardiola did not enjoy the lack of control in a raucous contest and had choice words for £100-man Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez.

He pulled the two wingers over to one side and began what looked to be a scathing sequence of instructions, which is all well and good at 2-1 down with five minutes to go, but maybe not when the men in question end up responsible for three goals between them.

Still, Pep was not happy with how Grealish and Mahrez were fulfilling their defensive duties and Christopher Nkunku’s hat-trick showed he had a point. It meant the City pair joined the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Raheem Sterling in having very public dressings down from Guardiola amid an overall positive outing for the team.

“Sit down drink water and relax”

Possibly the calmest but scariest way someone could instruct you to get comfortable and hydrate.

But those are the words Guardiola boomed at his players as they took their seats at the DW Stadium at half-time, reduced to 10 men after a contentious red card in an FA Cup fifth-round tie against habitual tormentors Wigan Athletic.

Thankfully this moment was captured by Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary team, who also caught the melee in the tunnel as players and staff flooded into the dressing room.

Fabian Delph was dismissed for a firm tackle on Latics’ Max Power, a challenge that Anthony Taylor deemed worthy of a red despite initially drawing the yellow.

In the dressing room, while the players were scratching their heads at what just happened, Guardiola strutted in and shouted: “Sit down! Sit down, nobody talks! Sit down! Wait, drink water and relax.”

You’d expect the content on the next popular wellness app. But, really, this was all in the delivery.

Trent Alexander-Arnold handballs

Probably the most memorable of the lot.

Both juggernauts fighting for the title in what could’ve been a winner takes all match.

Bernardo Silva burst forward and had his cross pinball off himself and Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren. As Trent Alexander-Arnold readied his position, the ball struck his hand and hip.

Cue angry reaction number one… and that was before Liverpool streamed up the other end to score through Fabinho. It turns out the Brazil midfielder is much more dangerous from 30 yards than three in front of the Anfield Road End.

Then in the second half, Raheem Sterling looked to deliver one-on-one with Alexander-Arnold, his attempt thwarted by the hand of the right-back.

Now came a furious Guardiola, who bellowed “TWIIIICE!” as he looked to the Merseyside sky gesturing with two fingers.

After the game, he went over to congratulate referee Michael Oliver – rather overenthusiastically shaking the official’s hand like an uncle you see at family parties, who calls you “champ” and gives you a dead arm from a handshake.

What’s your favourite angry Pep moment? Let us know in the comments section.