Guardiola fumes over decision not to overturn Tottenham’s first goal

Pep Guardiola was left simmering with frustration after Manchester City surrendered a commanding two-goal lead against Tottenham Hotspur, with the City manager directing much of his anger toward the officials following a controversial decision that allowed Spurs’ first goal to stand.

On a tense Sunday evening in north London, City had looked well on course for three vital points. Tottenham’s confidence appeared badly shaken during the opening 45 minutes as Guardiola’s side imposed themselves with authority, controlling possession and cutting through Spurs with alarming ease. The visitors were rewarded for their dominance through goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, both finishes reflecting City’s superior organisation and sharpness in the final third.

By the interval, Spurs were struggling for rhythm and belief, while City looked comfortable, professional, and ruthless. Guardiola stalked the technical area with satisfaction as his side limited Tottenham’s attacking threat and moved the ball with purpose, leaving the home crowd restless and anxious.

Yet football’s unpredictability surfaced immediately after the restart. Tottenham emerged with renewed intensity, pressing higher and forcing City into uncomfortable areas. Their increased aggression was eventually rewarded in the 53rd minute when Dominic Solanke capitalised on a loose ball inside the penalty area and forced it over the line to cut City’s advantage in half.

The strike, however, was quickly engulfed in controversy. In the build-up, Solanke appeared to make contact through the back of Marc Guehi’s leg while attempting to reach the ball. City players immediately surrounded the referee, insisting it was a clear foul and that the goal should be disallowed. Guardiola reacted furiously on the touchline, gesturing animatedly toward the officials while VAR conducted a brief review.

Despite the protests, no intervention arrived. The goal stood, and the Premier League Match Centre later explained that Solanke had sufficiently played the ball, meaning the contact with Guehi was deemed incidental rather than a foul. The decision infuriated Guardiola, who felt consistency was again missing in high-stakes moments.

When speaking to Sky Sports, the City boss was in no mood to disguise his displeasure. Instead of offering a routine assessment, he pushed back against the questioning, asking the interviewer to judge the incident themselves.

“Once again… have you seen it? Nothing,” Guardiola snapped, clearly irritated and on the verge of cutting the interview short. “It happens again. What can I say? Marc has the ball, he’s kicked from behind and it’s a goal. Nothing. One more. Fascinating in the Premier League.”

His frustration did not end there. In his post-match comments to BBC Sport, Guardiola doubled down, comparing the incident to what would normally be awarded at the other end of the pitch.

“If you do that to a striker, it’s a penalty,” he said. “But I’m not a referee.”

Solanke’s goal completely shifted the mood inside the stadium. Spurs, previously subdued, suddenly played with freedom and belief, pushing City deeper and feeding off the atmosphere from the stands. City, by contrast, lost their earlier control and began to look vulnerable under pressure.

The momentum swing eventually allowed Tottenham to complete their comeback, ensuring both sides had to settle for a point rather than the result City had seemingly secured by half-time. What had looked like a routine away victory became a frustrating missed opportunity for Guardiola’s men.

The dropped points carry major significance in the context of the Premier League title race. City now sit six points behind leaders Arsenal, a gap that threatens to widen if consistency continues to escape them during the run-in. For a side used to relentless winning streaks, surrendering advantages has become a worrying theme.

Still, Guardiola refused to frame the result as a decisive setback to City’s ambitions. He insisted there remains plenty of football to be played and that his side must respond rather than dwell on officiating decisions.

“We are playing at a very, very high level,” the Spaniard said. “Of course we don’t have the consistency to win every game, but there are 14 matches left and a lot of points still to play for. There are many points to fight for. Now we move onto the next one.”

For Tottenham, the draw felt closer to a victory, reflecting character and resilience after a bleak first half. For City and Guardiola, however, the night will be remembered for what slipped away — control, points, and perhaps momentum in a fiercely competitive title race.