Pep Guardiola refused to comment on the mayhem that marred the end of their red-blooded clash with Atletico Madrid. The Manchester City boss preferred to praise his players for a fantastic defensive effort in the face of a fierce assault from the Spanish champions, one which spilt over into a 20-man melee on the pitch and then further clashes in the tunnel.
Felipe was sent off for his part in the bedlam after there had been niggles throughout and City were not happy with Felipe's shoulder barge into the head of Phil Foden that left the player with a bandaged head. And when the same player slid into Foden as he raced down the touchline, and then took exception to the City youngster's theatrical rolling. When fellow defender Stefan Savic then picked up Foden and dumped him off the pitch, City players raced across to support their teammate and bedlam ensued.
Savic had his head in the face of Raheem Sterling and pulled the hair of unused sub Jack Grealish, who had raced down the touchline to the aid of his young pal. He got a yellow card for his quadruple offences. Atletico were angry that City began the histrionics that they had been performing over both legs, and complained bitterly that more time had not been added.
