Haa-rsh words prove City have right mentality to defend crowns

WHEN City players emerged for the second half at Turf Moor, Pep Guardiola was seen embracing Bernardo Silva and holding him close as he walked across the pitch.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

It had a comedic feel, as if the Blues boss was protecting his smaller player from the big bully after he had raced over at half-time to scold Erling Haaland for shouting at Silva.

In reality, everyone had already moved on and the champions were ready to go again.

The half-time shouting match between Haaland and Guardiola was striking, one of the biggest figures at the club not hesitating to shout at the other in front of the television cameras (even if he did belatedly shove them away before going back for more).

As former United player Gary Neville said of the incident, it is not even something that the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson would have done.

And yet, for all the drama in those seconds, it tells you everything about this City squad that there was mild disdain from the participants at it being such a big talking point.