Pep Guardiola had a strong message for goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, a lip-reading expert has now revealed, after the Manchester City boss was seen in a strange hug after blowing a 2-0 lead against Brentford on Tuesday night.
Guardiola was in a strange embrace with his goalkeeper after the Premier League clash when Brentford scored twice in the final minutes to equalise.
The Spaniard appeared angry at Manchester City's capitulation, but continued to hug Ortega as he delivered his message.
Guardiola was seen grabbing the still-angry 32-year-old and confronting him in the face as the player turned his head.
He then grabbed Ortega's head and yelled in his ear, before walking away and becoming more frustrated, apparently yelling in his face.
Guardiola lightly hit his player's chest, then hugged him again and appeared to kiss him on the cheek.
An expert lip reader has revealed a three-word message Pep Guardiola gave to Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega amid a lively exchange following the 2-2 draw at Brentford.
Guardiola coached in his first match since it was reported that he had separated from his wife, Cristina.
After a few more hugs and exchanges of words, the two men went their separate ways.
Lip-reading expert Jeremy Freeman has revealed that Guardiola had a clear message for Ortega, stressing that the goalkeeper should “take that yellow”.
The implication was that Ortega should have slowed the game down as Man City tried to hold on, despite the potential risk of being booked for wasting time.
The exchange came after reports emerged from Spain on Monday night that Guardiola and his wife Cristina had decided to separate after 30 years together.
Guardiola, who has three adult children with his fashion boss wife, has always stayed at the family home – an £8.4million mansion in Barcelona's most elite neighborhood – when returning to the Catalan capital from Manchester.
He is now expected to move away, but on Tuesday it was strictly football matters for the Spaniard as his team took on Brentford in the Premier League.
After Guardiola was taunted by fans when he arrived on the pitch, Phil Foden scored a brace for the champions, but Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard scored to ensure the points were shared as City's struggles continued.
Despite the criticism of Ortega, lip-reading expert Freeman backed Guardiola's post-match comments that he had also been praising the goalkeeper for his performance in the match.
Guardiola could be seen grabbing Ortega as he turned his head, getting physical as he put his arm around the player.
Guardiola was also seen in what appeared to be a heated conversation with Josko Gvardiol.
Reports from Spain said Guardiola and Cristina decided to separate after 30 years together
Guardiola also insisted he had praised defender Josko Gvardiol, another player he was seen having a lively discussion with after the match.
'Conversation with Josko Gvardiol? How well he played, he played an incredible game,” Guardiola said.
'I was satisfied; We talked about an action, but the same thing happens with Stefan Ortega: I said how well he played.
“His actions with the ball, the good passes to Erling Haaland, how happy and satisfied I am, especially with these two players and what they have done.”
After the match, Guardiola said: “(I'm) disappointed because with 2-0 up we didn't win (the match) before 2-1, then we did very well.” In the end they made a lot of plays in the area, we are not strong there due to the absences we have and unfortunately we could not close the game.
'Today we didn't make the right decisions in the final third when we could run. They have opportunities in the first minute, they have momentum because they are an incredible team here.
“I had the feeling that we didn't make the right decisions in the final third to close out the game.”
The result leaves Manchester City in sixth place in the Premier League table, with the reigning champions 12 points behind leaders Liverpool and two behind Chelsea, who occupy last place in the Champions League.
Guardiola and Serra had remained a couple despite not living in the same city
Reports suggest the duo split after 30 years together, although no third person is said to be involved.
The Manchester City manager was interrupted by fans upon his arrival at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Spanish journalist who broke the shocking news of Guardiola's divorce insisted that the Manchester City manager and his wife Cristina have not separated because of a third party.
Lorena Vázquez, who is part of a highly respected journalist duo known in Spain as the Mamarazzi, said overnight: “It has been a carefully considered decision that the couple discussed for several months.
'They continue to have a cordial and affectionate relationship. Nobody else is involved. There are no third parties. “We are going to continue seeing them together.”
After revealing the couple's shocking split, he added: “They didn't expect any journalist or media outlet to confirm this breakup, but I can assure you that they live separately and only a small handful of people knew about this.”
After the match, Guardiola said: “(I'm) disappointed because with 2-0 up we didn't win (the match) before 2-1, then we did very well.” In the end they made a lot of plays in the area, we are not strong there due to the absences we have and unfortunately we could not close the game.
'Today we didn't make the right decisions in the final third when we could run. They have opportunities in the first minute, they have momentum because they are an incredible team here.
“I had the feeling that we didn't make the right decisions in the final third to close out the game.”