'Difficult for me to understand' - Guardiola explains reaction to ref decision

Pep Guardiola has spoken publicly about his reaction to a refereeing decision that occurred during Manchester City’s FA Cup fifth-round victory over Newcastle United, saying the episode left him perplexed.

Addressing the incident after the match, the City boss admitted:

“It was difficult for me to understand.”

Guardiola did not elaborate on the precise nature of the call but confirmed that his animated response on the touchline stemmed from the official’s ruling at a pivotal moment of the contest. The exchange passed without further sanction, and City ultimately secured their place in the quarter-finals.

The FA Cup tie, played in front of a capacity crowd, remained the focus of Guardiola’s post-match reflections as he attempted to contextualise his emotional display within the high-stakes atmosphere of knockout football.

Manchester City now await the draw for the next stage as their pursuit of a domestic double continues.