Conceicao accused City's dugout of 'extremely unpleasant' behaviour before Champions League rematch

Sergio Conceicao once accused Manchester City’s dugout of “extremely unpleasant” behaviour and sarcastically credited Pep Guardiola with teaching him how to pressure referees — a flashpoint from a 2020 Champions League group-stage meeting that resurfaces as the two clubs prepare to face each other again on Tuesday.

City won that first encounter 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium, coming from behind after Luis Diaz gave Porto an early lead. Goals from Sergio Aguero, Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres completed the turnaround, but the result was overshadowed by a furious post-match reaction from Conceicao.

“I’ve got a lot to learn from Pep Guardiola, in the way he pressures referees, talks to opposition players and opposition dugout,” Conceicao said sarcastically. “He’s a fantastic example. I have to learn this. We were angels compared to the other dugout. He spoke about our country using ugly words. Guardiola’s attitude was extremely unpleasant.”

Conceicao’s anger centred on several refereeing decisions he felt had gone against his side. He disputed the penalty awarded for Aguero’s equaliser, arguing that Gundogan had fouled goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin in the build-up, questioned the free-kick from which Gundogan scored, and claimed Porto should have received a spot kick for a push on Pepe.

“If anybody should have been complaining, it was the Porto bench, because we were extremely hard done by,” he added, also taking aim at the VAR officials and suggesting international referees could learn from their Portuguese counterparts.

Guardiola pushed back ahead of the reverse fixture two months later. “I’m not agreeing. He can say, maybe it’s his opinion, but I’m not agreeing that we pressure the referees. It’s not the way that we in the history speak for ourselves. We are not the type of team to do this, honestly. I would admit it.”

That second game ended 0-0 in Porto — the only points City dropped across the entire group stage. Guardiola’s side went on to eliminate Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain on their way to the Champions League final, which was held at Porto’s own Estadio do Dragao.

Conceicao has since left Porto and is now in charge of AC Milan, meaning Tuesday’s renewal will not feature the same managerial rivalry. The backdrop of that acrimonious 2020 encounter, however, adds an extra layer of history to a tie that already carries significant weight for both clubs.