Pep Guardiola was pleased with the first three points and bemused by Rico Lewis’s 88th-minute straight red card for which the player will receive a one-match ban – at least.
Lewis protested yet the video assistant referee upheld Ramon Abatti’s odd decision: Manchester City’s 20-year-old right-back swept the ball away and then – unluckily – booted Samuel Obeng’s face. Guardiola said: “For the speed they go to touch the ball – for the Newton’s theory your leg has to be a little bit higher and the other player was down. Rico has never had an intention to hurt anyone. It’s a little unnecessary. I said that to the referee, he disagreed and he is the boss.”
