The incident occurred at St. James' Park immediately after the final whistle. Guardiola, feeling the impact of the result, approached referee Sam Barrott and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães. During this emotional conversation, the coach accidentally brushed against the operator's headphones, which he later called a mistake.
He later commented on the incident: "I feel embarrassed and ashamed when I see it. I don't like it. I apologized right after the incident. I'm just a person who sometimes makes mistakes," noted Guardiola. He added that his actions were driven by a desire to protect his team and club.
This defeat was City's fourth in the current Premier League season, leaving the team in third place, seven points behind leaders Arsenal. Guardiola acknowledged that the team needs to improve its performance but expressed hope: "We have lost four games out of 12, and we need to significantly step up... Mathematically, we have chances for success."
He also commented on his incident with Guimarães, noting their good relationship: "We often cross paths, and we have always had a great relationship. I am an emotional person, I love to communicate and gesture."
Additionally, City expressed dissatisfaction with the referee's decisions regarding a potential penalty in the situation with Phil Foden and an offside in Harvey Barnes' goal, which secured the victory for Newcastle. Guardiola added that the referee and VAR were fully engaged in the game.
Guardiola's 100th match in the Champions League is ahead, where City will face Bayer Leverkusen. Currently, the team has accumulated 10 points after four matches in the group.
