Man City vs Tottenham: Pep Guardiola explains Sergio Aguero argument after dramatic Etihad draw

Aguero substituted after Moura's crucial equaliser

Pep Guardiola insisted that he ‘loves’ Sergio Aguero despite their argument during Manchester City’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night.

Guardiola and Aguero shared a heated exchange when the City striker was brought off shortly after Lucas Moura’s header from a corner had levelled the score.

Aguero felt Guardiola was blaming him for the goal and remonstrated with his manager as he made his way off. A furious Guardiola shouted at his player from across the dugout.

Guardiola played down the spat in his post-match press conference, having briefly celebrated City’s late disallowed goal with Aguero on the touchline.

“He believed I was upset with him for the goal we conceded,” Guardiola explained. “The goal we conceded was a corner. I wanted one on one movement.

“He thought I was upset with him. Emotion is part of our game. We talked after and during. He’s a guy I love a lot.”

City believed they had secured all three points late on when Aguero’s replacement Gabriel Jesus converted past Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on a corner.

But, just as in April’s Champions League quarter-final between the two sides, VAR ruled City’s late winner out. Aymeric Laporte was judged to have handled the ball.

Guardiola accepted the decision for what it was. "We have to accept it," he told BBC Sport. "I would like to win, we had an incredible performance.

"What can I say? I would like to win for the chances we create but we didn't. I am not going to judge the team performance against the goals we conceded. We had 30 shots."

But the City manager could not help but draw a comparison between Laporte’s infraction and Fernando Llorente’s decisive goal in the quarter-final last April, which appeared to deflect off the Tottenham player’s arm.

“[The inconsistency] is disappointing," he admitted. "Why is it not hands with Llorente last season and Laporte’s is hands?

"They don’t explain. Go to London and ask the managers if it will lever be consistent. It’s a pity.”