“I do it for the cameras!” – Pep Guardiola responds to criticism over Jack Grealish on-field talk after Arsenal draw

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded in typical fashion to criticism over his on-field discussions with Jack Grealish after the recent 0-0 draw with Arsenal.

The Premier League champions remained in third position following the stalemate with their title rivals on Sunday afternoon, and find themselves now three points behind leaders Liverpool following their comeback victory over Brighton.

The 0-0 draw with Mikel Arteta’s players was not without the want of trying, as Pep Guardiola made a rare double substitution in the second-half by introducing Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku in an attempt to break down Arsenal’s six-man defensive line.

Unfortunately for the hosts, no such breakthrough was to come, and Guardiola was keen to offer tactical advice to both players after the final whistle in full view of television cameras on the field, with his instructions for the former receiving some criticism in the media.

When quizzed on the interaction and why he felt it necessary to pull Grealish in particular aside on the pitch after the game in front of TV crews, the Manchester City boss responded during his pre-Aston Villa press conference, “Yeah, I do it for the cameras, for my ego.”

Continuing in typical sarcastic Pep Guardiola fashion, the Catalan coach continued, “No I’m the famous person in the team, and I don’t get recognised and I need the cameras for my ego to go to sleep with incredibly satisfaction.

“So that is the reason why. Always I try to criticise the players there and let them feel how bad they are, and especially when Erling (Haaland) scores three goals the compliments has to be with me. Not with them.”

He continued, “That’s why I use the cameras to do it there. My advice next time is don’t film us and it will not be a problem.”

Manchester City take on Aston Villa in their first of numerous high-profile fixtures across the course of April, with the meeting with Unai Emery’s side starting a run of eight matches in a 25-day period across all of the club’s remaining competitions.

A meeting with Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon will be the final Premier League clash before City return to UEFA Champions League duties, travelling to Real Madrid to take on Los Blancos in the quarter-final first-leg of the competition.