Man City manager Pep Guardiola has jokingly handed Ilkay Gundogan a ban for the rest of the season after the German midfielder’s wife criticised the food in Manchester.
Sara Arfaoui claimed she couldn’t find a good eatery in the city – despite Guardiola owning a Tapas restaurant.
“Sorry, I’m sad to be honest but nothing,” Gundogan’s wife said on social media.
“I tried so bad to find a good restaurant but horrible food everywhere. Can’t find a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food… everywhere frozen.
“Restaurants here are focused on making money with drinks and shots like night clubs – not quality food. Maybe in London but in Manchester, nothing. I’m sorry.”
And Guardiola joked the couple need to dine at his place before passing judgement.
He joked: “I am disappointed that they didn’t go to my restaurant. Gundo will not play one more game this season!
“I’m going to invite her and [Ilkay] Gundogan to TAST [the Tapas bar] and of course, they are going to eat properly.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola has backed City striker Erling Haaland to break a host of goalscoring records after his blistering start to the season.
The Norwegian has scored 19 goals in 11 games across all competitions this season and has netted in each of his last nine appearances.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton are up next at the Etihad for Haaland, who goes into the clash off the back of a hat-trick in last weekend’s Manchester derby and two more against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Saints, Guardiola told his pre-match press conference that the Norwegian is far from the finished article and wants the most goals in a Premier League season crown (34), currently occupied by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
“He can improve every part of his game. Everyone knows he can do better. We can all improve until we die,” said Guardiola.
“It will be good for Haaland to break the record but any record can be broken. Hopefully he can carry this on. After the Community Shield people had a lot of doubts but let’s just look at tomorrow and he needs to focus on that. Then at the end of the season he can look at the goals.”
Haaland has already broken a host of records just eight weeks into the season. The Norwegian eclipsed City legend Sergio Aguero to become the highest Premier League scorer over their first five games.
He also became the first player to score a hat-trick across three-consecutive home Premier League games and three hat-tricks in the fewest amount of games – beating Michael Owen’s record.
Owen took 18 months to achieve the feat whereas Haaland accomplished it in just eight weeks.
Haaland’s influence on City has sparked comparisons with Lionel Messi who Guardiola managed during his stint as boss at the Nou Camp but the Spaniard maintained that no player can measure up to the Argentina superstar.
“Nothing is comparable with Leo Messi. How many new Messi’s is there ten or 15 but they all fail.
“All of the questions about Erling but the guys here accept it perfectly.
“Kevin [De Bruyne] is an exceptional person and he is happy to have Erling here and it goes for all the players here.”
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News Summary:
- Pep Guardiola jokes Ilkay Gundogan ‘will not play again this season’ after wife’s comments about food in Manchester as City manager invites couple to his restaurant
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.