Premier League: Who's leading race to become top scorer?
Pep Guardiola offered a blunt response when asked if Manchester City should have had a second penalty in their 2-1 defeat against Chelsea. The result extends their wait to win the Premier League title.
Sterling’s first-half goal put City ahead but they should have extended their lead in added-time at the end of the opening period.
Sergio Aguero’s casual Panenka-style spot-kick was caught easily by Chelsea goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy.
That changed the momentum of the game. Hakim Ziyech drilled in the equaliser and Thomas Tuchel’s side twice had goals disallowed.
But City then felt they should have had another penalty midway through the second half. Sterling raced away on goal and appeared to be tripped by defender Kurt Zouma.
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“It’s a penalty,” Guardiola bluntly told Sky Sports.
Pressed further, he concluded: “It’s a penalty. It’s a penalty, that’s all [I have to say].
“That’s football, it happens. Football [is about what] happens. We will try next time to score our penalty and that’s all.
“The opinion of the officials and Anthony [Taylor], they know it. That’s all.
Sterling appeared to be tripped by Zouma (Image: GETTY)
"That’s all I can say, sometimes we make mistakes and maybe they believe that they have not made a mistake. It’s okay.
“I saw it on the TV, it’s a penalty. That is all. Obviously we would have to still score the penalty.
“In 21 days we will face them [Chelsea] again in the final of the Champions League and we will have to learn from that. We will also try to get the three points that we need to be Premier League champions.”
Sterling was slightly more open about the incident. The England forward, whose goal was his first in his last 13 matches, felt that he had been fouled by Zouma.