Pep Guardiola has apologised for the behaviour of his Manchester City players late on in their defeat to Chelsea after seeing Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho each shown a red card.
Aguero was dismissed for catching David Luiz knee-high with his studs in the sixth minute of added time, sparking a melee near the sidelines as both sets of players clashed at the Etihad Stadium.
Referee Anthony Taylor was quick to dismiss the Argentina international, while also giving Fernandinho his marching orders after he grabbed Cesc Fabregas by the throat during the fracas that ensued.
Aguero now faces a potential four-game ban for the wild challenge, having already been dismissed once already this term for violent conduct, but Guardiola has claimed "it was not intentional" and that Fernandinho was merely sticking up for his teammate.
"It is a pity it finished like this," he told reporters. "It is a pity. I apologise. [Luiz] went down and he touched him. It wasn't intentional. [Fernandinho] went to defend his teammate.
"Maybe I have to understand many things here, but referee says red card so red card. We didn't win because we missed a lot of chances, not because of the referee. Never in my life [have I criticised referees]. OK, I say never, but maybe a few times, but I respect [referees].
"It is just a game. I have to understand this is England. I didn't come here to change absolutely anything. I know the way you live. I am just here to understand and I need time to understand the decisions."
Chelsea came out on top 3-1 in the early Saturday kickoff, courtesy of second-half goals from Diego Costa, Willian and Eden Hazard to cancel out Gary Cahill's earlier own goal.
Daniel Lewis
