In the high-stakes cauldron of the Premier League, where every moment can tip the scales, Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park on April 19, 2025, should have been a cause for celebration. Yet, for manager Pep Guardiola, the win was overshadowed by a moment of exasperation that underscored his relentless pursuit of perfection. Matheus Nunes, the Portuguese midfielder repurposed as a makeshift right-back, sparked Guardiola’s ire by committing a cardinal sin in the Spaniard’s playbook: a foul throw-in. “It’s one of those things that drives me up the wall,” Guardiola has previously said about such basic errors, and his reaction on the touchline—leaping from his seat, arms flailing—spoke volumes about his intolerance for sloppiness, even in victory.
The match itself was a gritty affair, with City battling a resilient Everton side desperate to avoid relegation. Nunes, thrust into the right-back role following Kyle Walker’s loan move to AC Milan, has been a polarizing figure this season. His athleticism and versatility have earned him 16 starts, but his adaptation to the defensive position has been a work in progress. Against Everton, he shone in moments, delivering a pinpoint assist for Nico O’Reilly’s 84th-minute opener, which broke the deadlock in a tense encounter. Mateo Kovacic’s stoppage-time strike sealed the three points, bolstering City’s push for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification. Yet, it was Nunes’ foul throw—a seemingly innocuous mistake where he failed to keep both feet on the ground—that drew Guardiola’s wrath, delighting the home crowd who seized the chance to jeer.
Guardiola’s reaction wasn’t just about the error itself but what it represented in a season fraught with challenges. City, once the untouchable kings of English football, have endured a turbulent 2024-25 campaign, marred by injuries to key players like Rodri, John Stones, and Rúben Dias, and a shock Champions League exit to Real Madrid. “If you win, you have character; if you don’t, you don’t,” Guardiola said post-match, praising his team’s resilience but hinting at the fragility exposed by such lapses. The foul throw, a rare infraction in professional football, was a microcosm of the small margins that have plagued City’s quest to reclaim their dominance. Fans on platforms like X captured the moment, with one post noting, “Pep’s face when Nunes messed up that throw-in was pure cinema!”
Nunes, 26, has been a lightning rod for scrutiny. Signed from Wolves for £53 million in 2023, he was envisioned as a dynamic midfielder but has struggled to cement a regular role. Guardiola’s decision to deploy him at right-back, a tactical experiment born of necessity, has yielded mixed results. “He could become a good right-back because of his physicality,” Guardiola remarked earlier this season, though he controversially added that Nunes lacks the “tactical intelligence” for midfield. The comment stirred debate, with some seeing it as a motivational jab, others as a harsh critique. Against Everton, Nunes’ assist—his eighth in all competitions this season—proved his value, but the foul throw highlighted areas where he still falls short of Guardiola’s exacting standards.
The broader context of City’s season adds weight to Guardiola’s frustration. With only six games left to secure a Champions League spot, every match is a must-win. The Everton victory, while crucial, exposed ongoing issues with consistency. City’s squad, aging and injury-prone, has forced Guardiola to rely on youngsters like O’Reilly and Rico Lewis, who have impressed but can’t fully compensate for the absence of stalwarts. “What these players have done for one decade, I am so grateful for,” Guardiola said, reflecting on the team’s character despite a season he’s called “really poor.” His obsession with details—like avoiding foul throws—stems from a belief that such errors can unravel a team’s momentum in critical moments.
As City navigate the final stretch, Guardiola’s outburst serves as a reminder of his unrelenting drive. The foul throw incident, though minor, encapsulates the fine line between success and failure in his philosophy. For Nunes, it’s a chance to grow, to prove he can master the nuances of Guardiola’s system. For fans, it’s a glimpse into the intensity that has fueled City’s golden era, even as they fight to reclaim it. With tougher tests ahead, including a potential FA Cup clash with Bournemouth, City’s ability to eliminate such errors will determine whether they can salvage a season that has tested even Guardiola’s genius.