Pep Guardiola's dressing down of Jack Grealish on the pitch after Manchester City's draw with Arsenal was unnecessary and performative, Ian Ladyman believes.
An animated Guardiola made a beeline for substitute Grealish at full-time and was seemingly unimpressed with the forward's mixed half-hour cameo at the Etihad.
Grealish was unable to conjure up the moment of magic City needed to break through Arsenal's stubborn defence, with last season's Treble winners sensationally prevented from scoring at home for the first time in 57 matches.
Guardiola and Grealish exchanged words during the heated chat and the City boss appeared frustrated with the winger's involvement in a particular passage of play.
Their exchange was broadcast live on Sky Sports and Ladyman, speaking on the It's All Kicking Off podcast, believes it should have taken place away from the cameras.
Arguing that Grealish had in fact played well, Ladyman said: 'Pep Guardiola clearly didn't see it that way because as the teams left the field, Guardiola became involved in one of those incidents where he looks like he's publicly lecturing his player.
'He absolutely got into Jack Grealish in front of 40, 50,000 people plus people watching on television. I have to say, I don't like it. It's unnecessary. It's performative.
'It's for the cameras or it looks that way. You can wait bruntil you get to the dressing room. I've got a soft spot for Jack. I think he's a genuine lad.
'I think he cares deeply about his football. I think Jack Grealish in many ways is everything that we like about the modern Premier League.
'He's [got] a bit of glamour about him, but fundamentally is an honest, hardworking footballer.
'He's had a terrible season. He may not go to the European Championships this season because of his form and his injuries.
'And there he is getting b*******d in public by his manager. Grealish looked broken as Guardiola was doing that.
'I'm not here for it. I'm not here for that. And I'm sure Jack Grealish isn't here for it either. I don't know why Pep does that. I don't know why he does it.'
Chris Sutton, however, believes the situation has been blown out of proportion and that Guardiola had no intention of publicly embarrassing his player.
'I didn't see it as such a big deal because he has done it before,' he said. 'It's the end of the game. There's a real frustration that he may know that yesterday was the day that the title slipped out of City's hands and he's a coach.
'I actually watched it back this morning. I've watched it a few times. I didn't see it as a public berating. Maybe I'm going soft. I think it was maybe a misunderstanding that whatever Pep had told Jack Grealish to do, he hadn't done it.
'But it didn't seem like he was absolutely admonishing him and slamming him. It didn't feel like that. It was just a coaching point. We've seen Pep do that before.
'I do take your point about the public image and the fact we're talking about it now tells you that it is a debating point, but I didn't see it like that.
'I didn't see it as a public dressing down and Guardiola trying to embarrass Grealish.'
Biodilmnyz
0
Mr Pep why are saying that to him and Mr Pep ooo what about Doku he doesn’t do anything on the pitch and you let him play 75 or 80mt
My bro is not true why he can’t say the same thing to Doku and Haaland 🤥🥵
Pebbekmoyz
0
Mr Pep why are saying that to him and Mr Pep ooo what about Doku he doesn’t do anything on the pitch and you let him play 75 or 80mt
Doing that because he is pushing him to be a good player we all know he can be
fooabckmty
0
luckily we did not buy Kane, we wouldn't have won a single trophy with him. He's cursed
surely u r not that foolish!!!!
timdeikmp
1
Pep is a clown
jupcmnoru
1
the pundit guy is confused just like the name, neither a lady nor a man. the nigga is both😂😂
wikcimntu
0
because he is ur fellow English man?? it's city I blame shaaa, bought an over hyped player and left a brand like Harry kane to be suffering without trophies like this! mtcheeew
luckily we did not buy Kane, we wouldn't have won a single trophy with him. He's cursed
W0linhO
0
A nobody telling a two times treble winnner hw to manage his players. The world is progressingly getting stupidier
fooabckmty
1
because he is ur fellow English man?? it's city I blame shaaa, bought an over hyped player and left a brand like Harry kane to be suffering without trophies like this! mtcheeew
MUTABARUKS
2
Thank you Chris. That was no dressing down, but an honest and sincere football discussion. He was telling Jack not to worry about the performance and result because as he could see Arsenal had solid blocks around the box that they could neither break nor unlock hence no spaces left for them to exploit for that final killer pass. But yes, you have media chairs trying to sound all knowing and super understanding. Why would a seasoned coach who never dresses down his players behind the scenes or during press conferences do it in front of the cameras?
Biodilmnyz
0
Mr Pep why are saying that to him and Mr Pep ooo what about Doku he doesn’t do anything on the pitch and you let him play 75 or 80mt
Yorokiri
1
Ladyman go and be a Lady at your own house, this is Pep territory, just back off. besides he might have not played to the instructions of Pep, he might have played well in your eyes but that's why you're not a coach.
LeoM1710
0
in the eyes of English Pundits, English players are never wrong.
Chap Kim
0
its too bad English pundits are paid to create chaos cuz what does that ladywoman or whatever his name is know than talking shit.
Stdismas
1
Pep likes to do that right after a game and in front of the cameras, to be more specific. Nothing personal although it might look otherwise. That's just Pep being himself..
💯
lozlopyz
1
ladyman admits he has a soft spot for jack,anything else he says about pep's interaction with jack shouldn't matter because ladyman can't be objective! he is only trying to use pep's name to make himself relevant! I doubt he has any football knowledge,and I am sure he has no idea what pep was talking to jack about!
yasbkmnpuz
0
....this is why it's difficult for Pep to manage stars, Once Pep makes his unknown players' stars, they usually leave or he leave.
Ha ha ha hell madrid fan, no wonder sound farmilar, get Zidane to come manage their egos
dumabilmz
2
The Camara will pay him salary or what. he is doing the pep thing. say now an don't forget after
jamdun009
2
What is hidden in the Dark, must come to Light. The Moments the Goat see and feels to address his players about a Tactics or Strategies is right there on the Field. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, keep working Lads. CITY4LIFE CMON GUYS.
ariwanze
0
....this is why it's difficult for Pep to manage stars, Once Pep makes his unknown players' stars, they usually leave or he leave.
Kesadlor
3
pep should have kick, slapped and punch grealish in front of the camera 🤭
ANK3430
1
Pep likes to do that right after a game and in front of the cameras, to be more specific. Nothing personal although it might look otherwise. That's just Pep being himself..
Spot on bro
daheimpsty
2
there was no one to be blame coz its a team effort...Jack has no 4 eyes to see the open man around him...dressing room is the right place to talk for any matters
miguelbumba
4
Pep likes to do that right after a game and in front of the cameras, to be more specific. Nothing personal although it might look otherwise. That's just Pep being himself..
hiddknoptz
2
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