Pep says he “couldn’t care less” as Lahoz appointed to ref CL final

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he “couldn’t care less” after Antonio Mateu Lahoz was announced as the referee for this Saturday’s Champions League final.

Lahoz was the referee in the second leg of Manchester City’s UCL quarter-final defeat to Liverpool back in 2018. On that night, Guardiola criticised him for ruling out a Leroy Sane goal that could’ve helped get City back into the game – prompting Mateu Lahoz to send him to the stands.

After the full-time whistle blew, the Spaniard was fairly outspoken in his criticism towards the ref.

“He likes to be different”

“I know him from Spain so I could imagine that. I was polite, I was correct. Mateu Lahoz is a special guy, he likes to be different, he likes to be special.” Guardiola said at the time.

“He’s a referee who likes to feel different, he’s special. When everybody sees things he is going to see the opposite. It’s too much to send me off because I didn’t say any wrong word.”

Now, ahead of this weekend’s final, Guardiola didn’t seem particularly bothered about the appointment.

YouTube video

“I could not care less. I am so confident in my team. You cannot imagine how confident I am in my team and what we have to do.” Pep said of his side’s preparations.

City will be heading into the game in Porto as the bookies favourites over Chelsea but after losing to them twice in the last few weeks, Guardiola will know just how dangerous they are as a threat to their crowning moment.

The game will kick-off at 8pm and will be available to everyone on BT Sport’s YouTube channel in addition to BT Sport 1.

Featured image: Getty

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