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The Argentine received criticism for putting an arm on the referee but the Citizens coach has returned to defend his striker
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reiterated his defense of Sergio Agüero over an incident in which assistant referee Sian Masst, the Argentine forward, put his arm around ey-Ellis.
Aguero laid a hand on the official during City’s 1-0 win over Arsenal last week and drew widespread criticism on social media and from experts.
Match of the Day analysts Alan Shearer and Ian Wright were among those who condemned the action, while former Manchester United defender Gary Neville asked Aguero to apologize.
Guardiola defended Agüero after the game and once again backed his forward, who said he would have apologized if Massey-Ellis had complained.
“I did not speak to Sergio about this, but I am pretty sure that if she feels bad, he will apologize without problems,” Guardiola said.
“All the people watch from the outside judge, but I know Sergio’s intention. Sergio put his hands in a normal way, as he often does with me, on or off the court.
“Or when I hug him, when there is a change, or when sometimes he also touches the referee or the opponent.
“If he had seen some aggression, maybe. But I think it was normal because I know him perfectly. He has been a great star in the world, but he is humble, one of the most pleasant people I have ever met.
“The important thing is his intention, and his intention was normal, to talk to her in a normal way. It was not a bad word, it was just normal.”
Guardiola compared the reaction to that received by Bernardo Silva for a controversial post on social media involving his teammate Benjamin Mendy last year.
Silva apologized after posting a photo of a cartoon character promoting a chocolate brand in Spain alongside a photo of Mendy with a caption that reads, “Guess who?”
The apparent reference to Mendy’s career led to a one-match ban and a £ 50,000 fine, while Silva was ordered to undergo educational training.
“It’s the same thing that happened with Bernardo. I know him perfectly, it was a joke and this was a normal situation,” Guardiola added.
“I know perfectly well, it’s like Bernardo and what he had with Mendy. They are brothers and they suspended him.”
