SBOTOP : Pep Guardiola Furious After Solanke Goal Hands Fulham Comeback Against Man City

Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration once again after Manchester City squandered a two-goal lead and were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday (February 1, 2026). The result dealt a blow to City’s momentum in the Premier League title race, leaving fans and pundits debating the crucial moments of the match.

The spotlight fell squarely on the first Spurs goal, scored by Dominic Solanke, which Guardiola strongly believes should not have been allowed. The Manchester City manager argued that Solanke had made contact with the back of defender Marc Guehi before the ball crossed the line. Despite Guardiola’s objections, both the on-field referee and VAR ruled that the contact was insufficient to constitute a foul, and the goal stood.

Solanke’s Goal Sparks Tottenham Comeback

The controversial goal proved to be a turning point in the game. Spurs regained confidence in the second half, and Solanke later scored a spectacular volley to equalize, completing Tottenham’s comeback. The result was a significant morale boost for Spurs and their manager, Thomas Frank, while Manchester City now find themselves six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Guardiola was visibly frustrated when asked about the incident involving Solanke and Guehi.

“Okay, you answer that,” Guardiola said, avoiding a lengthy explanation. “If it happened the other way around—from a center-back to a striker—it would be a penalty, right? You said so yourself, so you saw it,” he added. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the Spaniard described such situations as “interesting in the Premier League.”

During the post-match press conference, Guardiola also highlighted the emotional impact of the refereeing decision, insisting that the first goal for Spurs made controlling the game much harder. “There was an emotional issue with the first goal awarded to Spurs. After that, momentum was difficult to manage, whatever happens in England,” he remarked.

Guardiola’s Recent Complaints About Refereeing

This is not the first time Guardiola has voiced concerns about officiating decisions in recent weeks. He previously criticized the annulment of Antoine Semenyo’s goal against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and questioned why Diogo Dalot escaped a red card in the Manchester derby after a dangerous tackle on Jeremy Doku.

Additionally, Manchester City felt aggrieved when they were denied a penalty for a handball by a Wolves player. Guardiola’s stance on refereeing remains unchanged, emphasizing that these issues have been a consistent source of frustration. “Nothing has changed my opinion on what I have seen before,” he stated.

Thomas Frank Understands Guardiola’s Perspective

Interestingly, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank acknowledged Guardiola’s viewpoint regarding Solanke’s first goal. “There was clear contact from him (Solanke),” Frank admitted. “Generally, we prefer a higher threshold for fouls. I understand that this was a gray area,” he added, showing empathy toward City’s concerns.

Frank compared the incident to a previous controversial goal, such as Hugo Ekitike’s strike for Liverpool against Spurs on December 20, which clearly involved two hands on Cristian Romero’s back. “In my view, that one wasn’t a gray area. I’m just very happy that luck was finally on our side, and I think it was fair in the end,” Frank said.

Tottenham’s Injuries and Squad Challenges

Tottenham faced significant challenges going into the match. Frank was missing 11 players due to injuries, and Cristian Romero had to be substituted at halftime due to illness. Solanke, who had just returned from a long-term injury, also couldn’t finish the match. In the 89th minute, Frank introduced 17-year-old center-back Jun’ai Byfield, making his league debut and playing as a right midfielder.

Despite these obstacles, Frank saw progress in his team’s resilience. “The team’s ability to respond to setbacks and show toughness is growing little by little,” he said. “This is our 11th match since the game against Nottingham Forest, and we are starting to show consistency. We are more competitive, and the direction is right,” he added.

Implications for Manchester City

The draw against Tottenham underscores the challenges Manchester City face in maintaining their Premier League lead. Losing a two-goal advantage highlights vulnerabilities in game management and the emotional toll of controversial refereeing decisions. Guardiola’s frustration reflects the high stakes at this stage of the season, as every point is critical in the title race.

As City prepare for upcoming fixtures, the team will need to regain focus and composure to avoid further dropped points. Guardiola’s leadership and tactical adjustments will be closely watched as he seeks to keep Manchester City in contention for the Premier League crown.

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