Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has opened up over his incoming touchline ban for their Premier League clash against Leicester City.
The Spanish tactician was handed the one-match suspension after receiving a yellow card in City’s FA Cup quarterfinal comeback win over Bournemouth on March 30.
Guardiola was booked by referee Stuart Atwell for dissent as he voiced his complaints about Erling Haaland sustaining an injury following a bad challenge from Cherries captain Lewis Cook.
That registered as his third yellow card of the season, with the previous two cautions coming against Arsenal and Fulham, which restricts him from touchline duty against the Foxes.
While the ban bars him from being present in the dugout for one league match, Guardiola is still allowed to address the press as per usual. He can also communicate with his players in the dressing room before the game and at half-time.
What Pep Guardiola said on Man City touchline ban
During his pre-match press conference, Guardiola addressed his touchline ban and boldly claimed his absence could allow his players more freedom on the pitch.
“My assistants will communicate [with the players], I cannot. At half-time I will, but not in the game. The view is better [from the stands]. I’m not annoying my players. My players all the time complain how annoying I am, so they will be free and can express their talent,” he said.
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Assistant coach Juanma Lillo will take the lead against Leicester in Guardiola’s absence. City fans will remember him from last season, as the club’s No.2 took the reigns when Guardiola was absent after undergoing surgery on his back.
Guardiola will return to the touchline for City’s crunch derby clash against Manchester United on Sunday, April 6, at Old Trafford.
