Pep Guardiola demands more protection from referees and downplays any issues with Neil Warnock after feisty cup tie

The Manchester City manager was critical of Cardiff's approach when the sides met in the FA Cup last season

Pep Guardiola has refused to become embroiled in a war of words with Cardiff manager Neil Warnock ahead of Manchester City’s visit to Wales.

Last season, City played an explosive FA Cup tie at Cardiff in which winger Leroy Sane suffered an ankle ligament injury following a bad challenge from Joe Bennett.

That led to an angry exchange of words between the managers after the game with Warnock fanning the flames of the disagreement on Friday when he claimed that Kevin De Bruyne had been guilty of an equally bad foul during the same game.

Now, with City facing a potentially tricky visit to, and bruising encounter with, Cardiff just days after losing their first game of the season, to Lyon, Guardiola is keen to play down any controversy.

Leroy Sane was one of a number of City players on the receiving end of tackles (Getty)

"They were nice words that we had," claimed Guardiola of his encounter with Warnock earlier this year.

"I'm not going to discuss a game that happened six or seven months ago, the decisions of the referee. I’m not going to play that game.

“All the games are physical, if we are slow we'll have more contact with opponents. If we are smarter then maybe less contact, sometimes it happens because we are slow.

“The way they play, the physicality is going to happen. There's not been one moment when we haven't had to suffer in the Premier League long balls, throw ins. That's not a surprise.

The Manchester City manager has called for more protection from referees (Getty)

“It is not (just) my players who need to be protected, not just city players - that's why the referees are there."

Sane, for one, would be forgiven for not relishing the return to the scene of that horrific foul, especially as he has just won his way back into Guardiola’s starting line-up.

But Guardiola insisted there will be no anxiety on the part of the German international as he returns to the scene of the “crime.”

“I didn't speak with him, but he's forgotten it. It's a new game,” said the City manager.

“Maybe I ask him. It's months ago, a different competition, an FA Cup game, now it's a Premier League game.

“We'll play our game and try to maintain the physicality. It's happened in all the games and now we try to make a good performance.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola insists he was never concerned that Sergio Aguero, who signed a new contract which will keep him at City until 2021 on Friday, was ever going to leave the Etihad.

The Argentinian appeared to have trouble in adapting to Guardiola’s demanding style of play and spoke openly about his uncertainty over whether he had a future role under the Catalan coach at City.

Sergio Aguero has extended his stay at Manchester City (Reuters)

“Never,” said Guardiola when asked if he ever doubted Aguero’s long-term future was with him.

“You asked me many times, especially the first year. Sometimes he didn't play, people would say if we didn't win 'what’s the problem with Sergio?’

“I understand because with important players - it happened at Barca many times - sometimes players would be so good but I put them on the bench and I always know the reaction when the result not good.

“But I had to take decisions, the relationship was always top, perfect. I'm delighted he can continue here.

“Always when he didn't play a few times it was because of Gabriel Jesus, (playing a) false 9 or whatever. And that's going to happen in the next three years.

“But we know each other better, as a player and human being and that's the most important thing.”

Guardiola is also hoping that Jesus, who has endured a quiet start to the season following a disappointing World Cup with Brazil, can benefit from more exposure to Aguero.

“Of course,” said Guardiola. “We can all learn - Gabriel from Sergio, and myself from the players, everyone can improve. He’s a good model to learn - how he moves in the 18 yard box."