Courtesy of a fantastic acrobatic goal from Erling Haaland, Manchester City stretched their unblemished start to the Champions League campaign after defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on September 15 (Wednesday). City had appeared set for a surprise defeat when Jude Bellingham nodded Dortmund ahead after the break, only for John Stones' long-range effort to beat Alexander Meyer for the leveller at the 80th-minute mark. Haaland then came to the Premier League champions' rescue four minutes later.
After the game, Guardiola became a topic of discussion for his antic on the pitch with the referee. The Manchester City boss was seen having an animated argument with the referee Daniel Orsato, who didn't take too much liking to what the Spaniard had to say and showed him a yellow card.
Watch the video here:
"I deserved it (the yellow card). I apologise to him (DanielOrsato)," Guardiola said in his post-match presser.
The City's boss also lauded his star player Haaland, who continues to excel on the big stage, and compared his strike against Dortmund to Johan Cruyff.
"Maybe the people who know me, you know the influence Johan Cruyff had in my life, as a person, an educator, a manager and mentor, everything," Guardiola said.
"Johan Cruyff, years and years ago at Camp Nou he scored an incredible goal against Atletico Madrid. It was quite similar. The moment he scored the goal I thought, Johan Cruyff.
"It was quite similar. It was a really good one. The pass from Joao is exceptional, he has the ability to do this kind of thing. Simple things, every ball he has, he has to make this kind of action, I know he can do it. That's football, you cannot force it. He made an incredible assist pass and the finishing from Erling was exceptional," he added.
