Pep Guardiola walks out of interview after ‘brave’ Laura Woods question | Football | Sport

Pep Guardiola refused to comment when asked a question by TNT Sports host Laura Woods, one that pundit Steven Gerrard felt was “brave”. Guardiola lifted his 20th trophy as Manchester City manager after Antoine Semenyo’s clever second-half goal led his team to a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening. The trophy could be the last for club legends Bernardo Silva and John Stones, both of whom will leave this summer.

But it might also be the last Guardiola wins at City. The Catalan coach, 55, has been tipped to leave the Premier League this summer after 10 years in Manchester. Woods tried to grill Guardiola over his future after City’s Wembley win as she asked: “Pep, there are so many rumours aren’t there, about you leaving. You’re not are you?” Guardiola pretended to be confused as he replied: “What rumours?” To which Woods said: “Rumours!” But Guardiola ended the interview prematurely when he said simply: “Have a lovely evening!” That brought out laughter from the rest of the panel, with Woods accompanied by Gerrard, Joe Cole and ex-City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

As they chuckled, Guardiola placed down his microphone on the table and shook hands with all four as Woods said: “You’re certainly leaving the interview. Congratulations Pep, what an incredible season they’ve had.” After Guardiola walked away, Gerrard smiled and said: “Fair play Laura, that was brave. That was brave.” Hart said: “Laura you nailed him!” While Woods replied: “I have to ask! I think I’d get fired if I didn’t ask the question.”

Discussing City’s victory earlier in the same interview, Guardiola added after winning his third FA Cup final: “Five finals in the last 10 years, we won three, lost two, that’s quite decent I would say. I think we had chances [to score more] but against Colwill, James and Caicedo… they are so, so good.

“Fernandez and Cole were dangerous. Second half we were better. First half we had the chance with Antoine but they were better. We found the goal. I had the feeling that last season, against Crystal Palace and the previous season against Manchester United, we were better than today but in football, sometimes this happens. I’m really pleased for the guys.”

He added to Arsenal fan Woods: “We’re still alive in the Premier League, I’m sorry Laura! But with two titles, it’s nice.” On the Semenyo goal, Guardiola continued: “Normally Antoine has to cross and Erling makes the finish. The impact Marc and Antoine have had since the winter transfers has been incredible. The only regret is that the amount of players who deserve to play but didn’t play.

“I left six players out in the stands and don’t let them play. Even now after many, many years it’s difficult to swallow. Not just John [Stones], all of them. But at the end it’s a business and you have to do what you believe.”

Guardiola continued: “Listen, Chelsea, I knew it, we talked these two days. We came [played] three days ago. They had seven days. The trip yesterday was a mess to come here, it took six hours because of a delay to the trains. They are so good, the quality they have is there.

“They were not consistent there but one game, finals, anything can happen.” City now return to Premier League action on Tuesday night against Bournemouth, with Arsenal playing 24 hours earlier against Burnley. If the Gunners win, the Sky Blues know that only three points will be good enough to take the title into the final day.

But the Cherries are on 16-game unbeaten run and are in a strong position to qualify for Europe ahead of what is their final home match of the season at the Vitality Stadium, and the last game that the departing Andoni Iraola will coach in front of their fans.