Pep Guardiola denies insulting referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz during Manchester City's Champions League exit to Liverpool, and suggested he was wrongly sent to the stands at the Etihad Stadium.
City were winning their quarter-final second-leg clash against Liverpool 1-0 courtesy of Gabriel Jesus' second-minute strike when, moments before the break, Leroy Sane had his goal disallowed for offside.
Guardiola reacted angrily to the decision and rushed onto the pitch at half-time to argue with referee Lahoz, who subsequently sent the City coach to the stands.
With Guardiola unable to help his team from the touchline, Liverpool scored two second-half goals to secure a 2-1 (5-1 aggregate) victory that sends them into the semi-finals.
In Pictures | Champions League quarter-finals second leg | 2017-18
After the game, Guardiola insisted he had not used any rude or derogatory words against Lahoz, telling BT Sport: "I said it was a goal when the ball was passed to Leroy Sane. That’s why he sent me off.
"It would have been different to go in 2-0. It’s different when [Mohamed] Salah’s goal at Anfield is offside. It’s different when Gabriel Jesus' goal at Anfield is offside.
"In this competition the teams are so equal and the influence of refereeing decisions is so important.
"We’ll go again next season. Big congratulations to Liverpool, Hopefully they can represent England well in the semi-final."
City, who have already won the League Cup this season, need two more victories to secure the Premier League title after they followed up their 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield with a 3-2 defeat at home to Manchester United at the weekend.
But Guardiola added: "We’ve had 10 amazing months. We have to recover mentally for the six games remaining. Our 10 month winning spell is exceptional. You have to analyse game by game."
