“I don’t care for one second!” – Pep Guardiola FUMES at Ederson’s yellow card against Arsenal

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shown his frustration at Ederson picking up a yellow card for time-wasting against Arsenal last month.

The Premier League champions have become accustomed to having to break down deep-lying defences at the Etihad Stadium over the years, as opposition teams look to reduce score-lines or stay in matches before seeking late counter-attack winners.

Those defensive tactics are also often paired with time-wasting strategies from opposing goalkeepers, and high-flying Newcastle have executed such processes clinically this season.

Ahead of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup final against the Magpies last weekend, manager Erik ten Hag said of Newcastle, “They’re an annoying team to play against. They try to annoy you. We have to make sure that we play our game and we focus on our game.”

Speaking ahead of his side’s upcoming Premier League clash against Newcastle United, the City boss was quizzed on whether his players need to avoid getting frustrated by possible time-wasting tactics from Eddie Howe’s squad.

In a sensational response from Pep Guardiola, the Catalan coach said, “No, if there is wasted time, we will have a yellow card for Ederson, don’t worry.” The City manager continued, “We are the team with the least wasted time, and we go to Arsenal and after 35, 37 minutes, we got a yellow card. Don’t worry about wasting time.”

“It depends on the referee. But I’m pretty sure the yellow card (for time wasting) will be for Ederson. How many games, how many thousand, million games have teams come here to the Etihad Stadium to waste time with the keepers? 20 seconds every time at a goal-kick, long ball, and nothing happened. Absolutely nothing happened.

“After, we go there (Arsenal), and we’re a team that wants to be active, active to play, and we get a yellow card. After that, we define these kind of situations, and that’s why I’m far away about comments about the referees because I don’t care for one second. What they can do, they can do whatever they want.”

Manchester City will look to move back to within just two points of their Premier League title challengers Arsenal this weekend, ahead of the Gunners’ 3PM home game against AFC Bournemouth – who recently fell to a 1-4 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Mikel Arteta and his players capitalised on their game in hand on City in fine fashion this week, cruising past relegation-threatened Everton in a 4-0 win at the Emirates Stadium, and extending their lead at the top to five points.

City however will be confident of taking all three points this weekend, despite the quality on show from the visitors, as Pep Guardiola and his players return to the Etihad Stadium off the back of a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions.