Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola appeared to berate fourth official Craig Pawson at half-time in Manchester City's 2-1 victory over Luton Town.
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City went in at the break 1-0 downGuardiola vented fury at PawsonEPL champions stage second-half comebackGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
City went into the game at Kenilworth Road looking to snap a four-match winless run, but fell behind just before the interval as Elijah Adebayo headed an Andros Townsend cross into the net to send the home fans into raptures. The Hatters went down the tunnel with a spring in their step, but Guardiola was visibly upset for some reason and vented his fury in the direction of fourth official Pawson. The City boss was seen pointing his finger at the official and even pushed one of his own staff members when they attempted to pull him away.
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City came out for the second period with a renewed sense of purpose, and equalised in the 62nd minute thanks to a brilliantly placed effort from Bernardo Silva. They edged in front just three minutes later when Jack Grealish turned in a pass from Julian Alvarez, and Luton were ultimately unable to find a way back into the game as they fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Guardiola did not reveal what he said to Pawson after the game, but did explain how he motivated his players to lift their performance levels after a sub-standard first 45 minutes. “I said to them: ‘What do we want to do, feel sorry for ourselves? It is football, it is life, it happens," the Spanish coach told reporters. "Even if they score a second goal, what do you want to do, complain again and say we are unlucky?’
“The big characters, the big teams like this one is, are defined in these situations. We can win 18 games in a row but that doesn’t define who you really are. You are defined now, in this moment, four games without winning and 1-0 in a tough stadium. They don’t need to prove to me what they are capable of because they are an extraordinary group but the competition demands you prove it again.”
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
City got back to winning ways without the assistance of their star centre-forward Erling Haaland, who was forced to miss the Luton game after picking up a foot injury in the club's defeat to Aston Villa on December 6. Guardiola issued a positive update on Haaland's fitness after the game, but was unable to give a firm return date for the Norwegian, who has hit 14 goals in 15 Premier League appearances so far this season.