Pep Guardiola has admitted he felt “embarrassed” and “ashamed” after an altercation with a cameraman following Manchester City’s defeat by Newcastle on Saturday.
Tensions boiled over after a fiery Premier League clash on Tyneside, with Guardiola arguing with Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes on the pitch at full-time before he was then seen lifting up a Sky Sports TV camera operator’s headphone to speak in his ear.
The incident was picked up by photographers at St James’ Park, and addressing the media ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, Guardiola said he immediately apologised after acknowledging that his emotions had got the better of him.
"I apologised," he said. "I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman.
"I am who I am. After 1,000 games [in management], I’m not a perfect person. I make huge mistakes. It’s not about that. What is for sure, I defend my team and my club.
"The reason why is I want to defend my team and my club. That is no doubt. Because from my experience, to win the Premier League, we have to do 100 points, 98 points, otherwise we don’t win it. That’s for sure."
On the confrontation with Guimaraes, Guardiola sought to downplay the incident, maintaining that he had a good relationship with the Newcastle midfielder.
"We have known Bruno for many, many years and every time after the game, even at the Etihad [Stadium], we talk in the tunnel or wherever we talk, always,” Guardiola continued.
"I don’t know what happened. Our paths always cross, and I always have a good relationship with him. I love it. I’m an emotional guy, I love to talk and move my hands and my arms and everything."
