Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was a notable absentee from the technical area during his side's FA Cup third-round tie against Exeter City on Saturday afternoon. The Catalan tactician was forced to watch from the stands at the Etihad Stadium as his team secured their place in the next round.
The Reason Behind Guardiola's Absence
Guardiola was serving a one-match touchline ban after accumulating three yellow cards this season. The 54-year-old received his third booking of the campaign during City's midweek match against Brighton & Hove Albion. He had previously been cautioned in fixtures against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. FA rules dictate that three yellow cards for misconduct in the technical area result in an automatic one-game suspension, which was served during the Exeter clash.
City's Performance Without Their Leader
With Guardiola banished to the stands, first-team coach Pep Lijnders took charge of delivering pitch-side instructions. Despite the manager's unusual vantage point, City progressed comfortably. The team sheet showed a blend of experience and youth, with summer signing Antoine Semenyo making his debut following his £64 million move just one day prior. Guardiola had confirmed the forward's inclusion pre-match, citing a shortage of available players.
The starting XI was: Trafford, Alleyne, Khusanov, Ake, Lewis, McAidoo, Reijnders, Cherki, Rodri, Haaland, Semenyo. Substitutes included Doku, Gonzalez, Zilva, Donnarumma, Nunes, O'Reilly, Foden, Mukasa, and Mfuni.
What's Next for Manchester City?
Attention now swiftly turns to cup competition, with City set to face Newcastle United in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final. That match is scheduled for Tuesday, 13th January at 8pm at St James' Park. Guardiola will be back on the touchline for that crucial encounter, having served his suspension.
The incident highlights the increasing scrutiny and disciplinary measures surrounding technical area behaviour in the modern game. For Guardiola and City, it was a minor disruption in a busy January schedule, but one that underscores the need for managerial discipline as much as player conduct.
