Supporters read far too much into the quality of the small talk and handshakes from Pep Guardiola after the final whistle on Saturday.
The Manchester City boss had just masterminded a 1-0 victory over reigning Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge when he took to the pitch to celebrate with his players and offer a respectful hand to the beaten Blues.
10 months on from an apparent snub from Guardiola to an olive branch from Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas after a Premier League game, viewers reckoned they saw visible tension between the pair who once worked together at Barcelona.
Social media was rife with suggestions that the relationship between Guardiola and Fabregas was one which had long since soured.
https://twitter.com/_TheBeck_/status/914194031810400256
https://twitter.com/24x7soccerus/status/914194226371530755
Pep didn't have much time for Fabregas at the end…..spoke to Pedro, Christiansen, Chelsea coaching staff…..but not Cesc….
— Bobby Hellard (@BobbyHellard) September 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/MysticMO11/status/914194632195571713
https://twitter.com/Joe990gp/status/914194223880183808
Well if there is some sort of lingering issue between the Spaniards, you’d never know it judging by Guardiola’s comments on the 30-year-old in his post-match press conference.
Guardiola paid Fabregas a huge compliment by suggesting that he is the “most special player in the world” at splitting defences when he’s on his game.
Now we’re no experts, by any means, but it’s hard to believe that the City boss hates Fabregas’ guts going off of that remark.
“We knew that when Cesc has the ball, in one second he is the most special player in the world for that ball in behind,” said Guardiola, via Metro.
“Chelsea want to play through the middle and attack with a lot of people. But we keep the ball as well as possible and regain possession as quickly as possible.
“It’s not easy to do that, especially against players like [Eden] Hazard and Willian and Pedro, because one mistake and it is a goal. But it’s the way we play and feel football. So we are happy for that. It’s important to win. It’s three points we win and three points Chelsea didn’t win. We’ve won all the games in September and most playing really well and scoring goals.
“Everybody is going to fight to keep this going.”
