Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

City's Pep Guardiola on Kyle Walker's sending off: 'Next question, please'

MANCHESTER -- Pep Guardiola refused to comment on Kyle Walker's controversial red card in Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Everton.

The £45 million summer signing was sent off in the 44th minute after appearing to back into Toffees defender Dominic Calvert-Lewin with his shoulder rather than raise an elbow.

Guardiola remonstrated with fourth official Michael Oliver as Walker walked off and appeared to sarcastically clap referee Bobby Madley after the final whistle.

But the City boss preferred to concentrate on the positives of seeing his side rescue a point through Raheem Sterling's volley after Wayne Rooney had given the visitors the lead with one of only two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Asked about the sending off, Guardiola told a news conference: "Next question please. I am not going to talk about the referee. It was so clear, so I don't want to talk about the referees."

In his Sky Sports television interview earlier, Guardiola had use the same phrase, adding "I want to be in Bournemouth," suggesting he didn't want to risk a suspension for City's next game on Saturday.

Speaking about the result, the manager called the draw "one of the proudest days in my life to see how we've done, the way we've done it, 10 against 11."

He added in his news conference: "We made absolutely everything to win -- with 11 and 10 for 65-70 minutes. Everton are a Europa League team, top quality players.

"I prefer to win the game but we were not able and there's nothing to say. It was quite similar to a lot of games last season.

"I'm sad because you want to start good at home but I don't have any regrets. We created chances again. They had one on target, they scored a goal. We created a lot but were not able to do it but it's just the second game and we're improving."

Sterling took a more direct approach, saying he felt City were hard done by the decision to send of Walker in the first half.

"It's decisions like those that last season cost us a lot, lost lots of points and it's happened again this season," he said. "I didn't think it was a red card.

"It's not my point to give and go further into it but I didn't really see it as a second booking, so I think it's really unfair to us to be fair."

Sterling was a substitute for the second straight game this season, but he wasn't complaining about his role after the game.

"I had to wait for my chances," he said. "Great squad, players that can play at any moment, so I'm just happy to be part of the squad and whenever I'm called upon to help the team as much as possible."

The former Liverpool man was pleased with his goal but rued an earlier missed opportunity, when he skied a shot over the bar.

"It felt sweet, but I had a chance before and I should have put that away, those are the crucial moments," he said. "That could have been 1-1 and maybe I'd have got that volley again, but that's football and I'm just happy to get the point today and not lose the game, that's the most important thing."

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