Pep Guardiola admitted to feeling embarrassment and shame on reviewing the images of him confronting a cameraman at St James’ Park.
The Manchester City manager was seething after the 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United on Saturday night, approaching referee Sam Barrott and Bruno Guimaraes in heated scenes.
The Sky Sports cameraman is thought to have filmed too close to the irate coach, Guardiola pulling up the man’s headset to communicate his displeasure.
‘I apologised,’ Guardiola said. ‘I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman.
‘I am who I am. After 1,000 games I’m not a perfect person, I make huge mistakes. It’s not about that.
‘What is for sure, I defend any team and my club, that’s for sure. The reason why is I want to defend my team and my club. That is no doubt.
Pep Guardiola has apologised for his post-match antics after Man City lost to Newcastle
As well as confronting a cameraman, a disgruntled Guardiola had a chat with match officials
‘Because from my experience to win the Premier League we have to do 100 points, 98 points, otherwise we don’t win it. That’s for sure.’
Already having lost four league matches, City would need to win every game from hereon in to reach a century of points.
In a prickly media appearance before facing Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Guardiola clearly remained agitated by no penalty awarded for a challenge on Phil Foden and then Newcastle’s winner standing.
‘The referee was involved for 95 minutes, 98 minutes, he was involved,’ he added. ‘My god, he was involved.
‘Sport is tough so not everything is flowers (on the) road or easy and comfortable. It’s part of who we are that builds as a team or a club. It’s important we live it.’
City can meet on-loan Claudio Echeverri on Tuesday night – although the young Argentine’s spell in the Bundesliga has been fraught with difficulty.
Echeverri has been an unused substitute in seven of the last nine league fixtures and City are thinking of recalling him in January.
The 19-year-old is highly regarded by City, who signed him from River Plate earlier in the year.
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Guardiola also spoke with Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for around 30 seconds
Guardiola used him off the bench as they chased the game against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final and he scored at the Club World Cup.
A season playing regularly was the plan for his development and Echeverri’s representatives opted for Leverkusen, while City are thought to have preferred a spell at sister club Girona instead.
Asked about the prospect of his return in January, Guardiola said sarcastically: ‘It is a question for his beautiful agent (Enzo Montepaone).
‘Always we’d would love that players play a lot of minutes, the intention is always there, we have an incredible appreciation about him as a football player. I am sure pretty sure his agent will know everything.’