In the second half, Manchester City managed to hang on with just 10 players and secure a 2-0 victory, maintaining their flawless start to the Premier League season. However, Guardiola believed that the referee, Taylor, had lost control of the match even before Rodri received a red card.
The Spanish midfielder was sent off for violent conduct after grabbing Morgan Gibbs-White by the throat early in the second half. As a result, he is now facing a three-match suspension, which means he will miss the crucial clash against title rivals Arsenal on 8 October.
In addition to Rodri’s dismissal, Taylor issued yellow cards to 10 other players, seven of them from Nottingham Forest, and even cautioned Guardiola himself.
“The game was incredibly perfect for 35 minutes for both sides but after that, when it became chaos, it was not our responsibility, that is for sure,” Guardiola remarked.
“With all the yellow cards, the responsibility is not Nottingham Forest or City’s that’s for sure. The referee has changed the game, absolutely.”
Guardiola mentioned that Rodri had apologized to his teammates for his red card, which will also sideline him for league matches against Wolves on 30 September and Brighton at home on 21 October. He drew parallels between this incident and Kyle Walker’s dismissal during the 2021-22 Champions League season against RB Leipzig.
“Hopefully Rodri will learn,” Guardiola added. “He had to control himself and his emotions. I can get a yellow card, but Rodri can’t. I don’t play – the guys who do have to be careful.”
“Kyle has done this in the past – they know they shouldn’t do it – but it is emotions. Whatever happens, you have to control yourself. I am angry, because I don’t like playing with 10 men.”
“I said to the players at half-time to be careful because of what had happened in the last 10 minutes [of the first half] but we fell into the trap.”
Manchester City performance and stats
Manchester City
It will be Manchester City ended the league in the 1st position with 18 points.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 16 goals and conceding 3.
Manchester City will play the next match in Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 30th of September in Wolverhampton.
