Pep Guardiola explains sideline outburst over Erling Haaland decision during Man City vs Leeds United

Pep Guardiola has played down his sideline outburst during Manchester City’s home win over Leeds United.

City maintained their Premier League title charge with a 2-1 win over strugglers Leeds on Saturday, with Ilkay Gundogan scoring both goals. The two goals were almost a carbon copy, with Riyad Mahrez cutting it back for his German teammate to score, albeit the second required an even better finish than the first.

It should have been a comfortable win for City, who missed a number of chances before Leeds clawed one back through Rodrigo Moreno late on, but it was a one-sided affair throughout.

One of the missed chances caused a stir on the sidelines, though, with Gundogan missing a penalty with the score at 2-0. Penalty takers Erling Haaland and Mahrez decided to allow Gundogan to take the spot-kick to complete his hat-trick, but the post denied the midfielder.

After the penalty was missed, Guardiola was animated on the sideline, telling Haaland he should have taken the penalty. But after the win was wrapped up, the Spaniard cut a much more relaxed figure, telling Sky Sports: “We didn’t say anything. I always have the feeling that when the game is at 1-0 or 2-0 that the main taker has to take the penalty, but that’s who Erling is as a person.

“The top scorer who scores goals and goals and goals, and he gives it to his mate for the hat-trick - I understand.

“To score a hat-trick is nice, and Ilkay is a really good penalty-taker, so everything would have been happy, but, you know, Erling is usually the first and Riyad the second. There is usually a routine to take it, but it’s good, it’s good for the future.”

Speaking about City’s win, Guardiola added: “An exceptional game. We played really, really good. If we had been more clinical up front, the game would have been fine before (the end), but we don’t forget that we have had three games in six days after the Arsenal game.

“A lot of tension and emotion, and everything, but the guys played exceptional football, in the first half, especially. The second half was more control because we have had a lot of games, then we miss the penalty, and it’s 2-0 in the Premier League, so it’s never over.”