Monday 28 August 2017 12:16, UK
Pep Guardiola has demanded an explanation from officials on why Raheem Sterling was sent off after scoring a last-minute winner for Manchester City at Bournemouth.
Sterling's joy was relatively short-lived as referee Mike Dean showed him a second yellow card for celebrating with the jubilant away fans.
Guardiola was frustrated with the officials for the second time in a week following Kyle Walker's sending off in controversial fashion against Everton.
"Maybe someone can call me as I don't understand," he said.
"He went over to celebrate and he came back. So I don't know what happened - I would like to know. Now he won't be able to play against Liverpool.
"Tell me the reason why we can't celebrate with the fans - maybe we play without the fans? When Bournemouth score, they go celebrate with the fans - it is what it is."
Guardiola also felt Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake should have seen red in the first half - but the Holland defender was only booked for a trip on Jesus.
When asked if it was a sending off, Guardiola said: "Definitely - I am saying that after winning. If we lose then I won't speak about that. He is the last man, it's a clear chance. The closest defender to Ake is 10 or 15 meters away."
Charlie Daniels produced a ferocious strike off the crossbar from a narrow angle to give Bournemouth the lead, but Jesus stabbed home from David Silva's wonderful through-ball to equalise.
But Guardiola was delighted to see City grab the winner amid a frenetic finale.
"We are happy with the victory especially after they scored such an outstanding goal," he said.
"We didn't miss any balls. That's why we had just one striker so we could win the ball in midfield. But in the early period they missed the balls, which is always a danger. After Daniels' goal we played quite good - we could've scored one or two goals. We tried to attack against eleven players defending. We tried to play the channels with players running in behind.
"At the end, we deserved the victory."
