Ortega 'will regret stupid Liverpool claim after Man City hierarchy response'

Stefan Ortega will be spoken to by the hierarchy at Man City over his “stupid” comments about Liverpool, expects Alan Pardew.

The German keeper reacted to sack chants directed at manager Pep Guardiola from the Anfield crowd during his side’s 2-0 defeat on 1 December by referring to Liverpool as “probably not the best part in [the] UK”, while claiming the Catalan reacted “really well”.

Pardew doesn’t think as much of the City man’s response to the situation, branding the comments “stupid” and tipping him to regret them “very soon” when his bosses get in touch.

The former Crystal Palace manager said on talkSPORT: “He shouldn’t have said that. Absolutely not. It’s the frustration, the anger, the pressure. Then saying something stupid like that. He will regret that and he is going to regret quite soon as he will be getting a few texts and a few messages I’m sure onto his mobile phone from the hierarchy at his football club.

Pardew added that while Ortega made a foolish mistake, it was a result of the immense pressure players and managers face in the Premier League. “We can’t hold him to court over that. It’s a stupid error to say. It just goes to show you the depth of pressure that is on you as a Premier League player and Premier League manager. Pep coming out doing the six signal and all that it’s all part of the process, it draws you out this game. It brings out the best in you sometimes and it can also bring out the worst in you.”

Stefan Ortega leaps to Pep Guardiola defence after Man City loss

Football Insider opinion

Ortega conceded two goals as his side fell to a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday evening, despite impressing Roy Keane after his surprise inclusion over Ederson. That has left them 11 points adrift of the Premier League leading Reds.

The Citizens’ defensive woes in recent weeks have been astonishing, especially for a Guardiola side that is built on such a strong system. In their last four games, they have conceded 15 goals—an alarming statistic for the reigning champions. City squandered a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League, underlining their growing problems.

This dreadful form has led to a seven-match winless streak, the longest run of games without a win in the Catalans entire managerial career.

A major factor in City’s slump has been the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, whose injury left a huge gap in the midfield. Neither Ilkay Gundogan nor Mateo Kovačić has been able to replicate the 28-year-old’s influence, and the latter is now hurt as well.

Their struggles deepened further when Guardiola made the shock decision to drop goalkeeper Ederson to the bench for their match against Liverpool and start Ortega. With the Blues defensive woes now in full view, the pressure is mounting on Guardiola to rectify the situation quickly.

In other news, fans have called for Kyle Walker to retire after his display against Liverpool.

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