Guardiola apologises for team brawl in City's defeat to Chelsea

Man City manager Pep Guardiola has apologied for his team’s involvement in the brawl that occurred with Chelsea during his team’s 3-1 defeat to the league leaders yesterday.

Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were sent off for their part in the altercation, Aguero getting his marching orders for a late lunge on David Luiz, and Fernandinho seeing red for clashing with Cesc Fabregas in the face-off that followed.

The incident happened at the close of the game, which saw Chelsea collect an eighth win on the bounce.

"It is a pity the game finished like this," Guardiola said. "I don't like that and I apologise for what happened.

"I don't think Aguero's challenge is intentional. Both players were strong, that is all.

"Then Fernandinho went over to defend his team-mate because of what the opponent did to Aguero.

"When (City winger) Nolito did that against Bournemouth, it was a red card for him and a three-game ban. That is why Fernandinho went to defend his team-mate, that is all.

"I have not spoken to him about it - if it is on TV, we will see about it."

Fernandinho will receive a three-match ban, while Aguero willl be forced to sit out four games, as he had already seen red this season for violent conduct for his challenge on West Ham’s Winston Reid back in August.

City fans had been frustrated by referee Anthony Taylor’s decisions earier in the match, inlcuding letting a Luiz tacke on Aguero go unpunished. But Guardiola blamed his side’s inability to finish in front of goal for the defeat, not the referee.

"We didn't win because we missed a lot of chances, not because of the referee's decisions," the Spaniard added.

"I am proud of my team and how we played - I came here to try to play the way we played in this game.

"You have to remember who we were playing, and that we created more chances than we did in our last two games against Burnley and Crystal Palace, when we won.

"But in the boxes we are not strong enough. When the opportunities arrive, we have to score goals because when we don't it is tough mentally for the players.

"It is a problem we have had all season. It is difficult for us to score goals and we concede them very easily."

Photo: Getty/Clive Brunskill

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