Pep Guardiola had a strong message for goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, an expert lip-reader has now revealed, after the Man City boss was seen in a bizarre embrace after throwing away a 2-0 lead against Brentford on Tuesday night.
Guardiola was in a bizarre embrace with his goalkeeper following the Premier League clash, as Brentford struck twice in the closing stages to snatch a draw.
The Spaniard appeared angered by Man City’s capitulation, but continued to hug Ortega as he got his message across.
Guardiola was seen grabbing the 32-year-old, still angry and getting in his face as the player turned his head away.
He then grabbed Ortega’s head, shouting in his ear, before he pulled away and began to get more frustrated, seemingly shouting in his face.
Guardiola lightly hit his player’s chest, then embracing with him again, and appearing to kiss him on the cheek.
An expert lip reader has revealed a three word message given by Pep Guardiola to Man City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega amid an animated exchange following their 2-2 draw at Brentford
Guardiola managed in his first game since reports that he had split from his wife, Cristina
After a couple more hugs and exchanges of words, the two men went their separate ways.
Lip-reading expert Jeremy Freeman has revealed Guardiola had a clear message for Ortega, stressing that the goalkeeper should ‘take that yellow’.
The implication was that Ortega should have slowed the game down as Man City sought to cling on, despite the potential risk he could be booked for time wasting.
The exchange came after reports from Spain emerged on Monday evening that Guardiola and his wife Cristina had decided to separate after 30 years together.
Guardiola, who has three grown-up children with his fashion boss wife, has always stayed at their family home – an £8.4million mansion in Barcelona’s most elite neighbourhood – when he has returned to the Catalan capital from Manchester.
He is now expected to move out of the home, but, on Tuesday, it was strictly football matters for the Spaniard as his side took on Brentford in the Premier League.
After Guardiola was mocked by fans as he arrived at the ground, Phil Foden had netted a brace for the champions, but Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard both struck to ensure the points were shared as City’s struggles continued.
Despite the criticism to Ortega, lip-reading expert Freeman backed up Guardiola’s post-match comments that he had also been praising the shot-stopper for his display in the match.
Guardiola could be seen grabbing Ortega as he turned his head away, getting physical as he put his arm around the goalkeeper, who has enjoyed a prolonged spell in the team recently
Guardiola was also seen in what appeared to be a heated conversation with Josko Gvardiol
Reports from Spain said Guardiola and Cristina decided to separate after 30 years together
Guardiola also insisted he had praised defender Josko Gvardiol, another player he was seen having an animated discussion with post-match.
‘Conversation with Josko Gvardiol? How good he played, he played an incredible game,’ Guardiola said.
‘I was satisfied; we talked about one action, but it’s the same with Stefan Ortega – I said how good he played.
‘His actions with the ball, good passes to Erling Haaland, how happy and satisfied I am, especially with these two players and what they have done.’
After the game, Guardiola said: ‘[I am] Disappointed because at 2-0 up we didn’t manage [the game] before the 2-1, after we managed really good. At the end they made a lot of plays in the box, we’re not strong there because of the absences we have, and unfortunately we could not close the game.
‘Today we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third when we could run. They have chances in the first minute, they have momentum because they’re an incredible team here.
‘I had the feeling that we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third to close the game.’
The result leaves Man City in sixth place in the Premier League table, with the reigning champions remaining 12 points off leaders Liverpool and two behind Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League spot.
Guardiola and Serra (above in 2024) had remained a couple despite not living in the same city
Reports claim they have split after 30 years, though there is said to be no third person involved
The Man City manager had been heckled by fans on arrival to the Gtech Community Stadium
On Tuesday, the the Spanish journalist who broke the shock news of Guardiola’s divorce, meanwhile, insisted that the Man City boss and his wife Cristina have not split because of a third person.
Lorena Vazquez, who forms part of a highly-respected duo of reporters known in Spain as the Mamarazzis, said overnight: ‘It’s been a carefully-considered decision the couple discussed over several months.
‘They continue to have a cordial and affectionate relationship. No-one else is involved. There are no third parties. We are going to carry on seeing them together.’
She added after revealing the couple’s shock split: ‘They weren’t expecting any journalists or media outlets would confirm this break-up but I can assure you they’re living apart and only a small handful of people knew about this.’
After the game, Guardiola said: ‘[I am] Disappointed because at 2-0 up we didn’t manage [the game] before the 2-1, after we managed really good. At the end they made a lot of plays in the box, we’re not strong there because of the absences we have, and unfortunately we could not close the game.
‘Today we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third when we could run. They have chances in the first minute, they have momentum because they’re an incredible team here.
‘I had the feeling that we didn’t take the right decisions in the final third to close the game.’
