Pep Guardiola’s frustration was palpable as he watched Erling Haaland relinquish the opportunity to take a penalty, allowing Ilkay Gundogan to step up instead, only to see the German midfielder miss the spot-kick.
The incident occurred during Manchester City’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leeds at home.
In the first half, Gundogan had already netted two goals, putting City in a commanding position. The second half seemed to be heading towards a comfortable victory for the hosts.
However, when Phil Foden was brought down inside the penalty area, City had a chance to seal the result.
Haaland, who had been their reliable penalty taker throughout the season, surprisingly opted to let Gundogan take the spot-kick, as he was on the verge of completing a hat-trick.
Unfortunately for City, Gundogan’s effort struck the upright and denied him the chance to secure a memorable treble.
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In the aftermath of the miss, cameras captured Guardiola visibly agitated as he directed his frustration towards Haaland, expressing his belief that the Norwegian striker should have taken the penalty himself. The disappointment on Guardiola’s face was evident after Gundogan’s miss.
Shortly after the penalty incident, Leeds’ Rodrygo pulled a goal back, setting up a tense finale at the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola’s frustration grew even more pronounced as City’s lead was halved.
However, the home side managed to hold on and stifle Leeds’ mounting momentum.
Gundogan was substituted minutes after Rodrygo’s goal, and as he left the field, there was no exchange of gestures or embraces with Guardiola, who still appeared noticeably annoyed.
At full-time, Haaland looked sheepish as he glanced towards the dugout, likely anticipating a stern reprimand from his manager behind closed doors.
While Haaland’s willingness to sacrifice the chance to score in favor of his teammate reflects the harmony within the City squad, Guardiola’s furious reaction underscores his unwavering winning mentality.
It is this mindset that has propelled City to their potential fifth league title in six seasons. Following the victory over Leeds, they sit four points clear of Arsenal, who still have a challenging away fixture against Newcastle.
Guardiola recognizes that, at this crucial stage of the season, sentiment and showboating must take a back seat.
City’s sole focus is on getting the job done and securing the league title. The incident serves as a reminder that Guardiola demands excellence and a ruthless approach from his players as they strive for success.