The scratches that appeared on the head of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola several weeks ago were partly caused by an argument with Kyle Walker, a respected journalist has claimed.
City have won just one of their last 11 games and pressure has begun to build on Guardiola to turn the side's form around.
After City gave up a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to Feyenoord in the Champions League last month, the Spaniard appeared at his post-match press conference with a scratch on his nose and several red marks on his face.
Advert
He said that he caused the nose scratch with his fingernail, before adding: "I want to harm myself."
Guardiola subsequently apologised for the latter remark, and stated that his answer 'was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self-harm'.
He would later confirm that the scratch on his nose was indeed caused by a fingernail, but did not explain what caused the other red marks on the top of his head.
Advert
That was until he told reporters that he had a skin condition that had required treatment for several years prior to last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
Journalist Guillem Balague - who has close connections to Guardiola - has now claimed that the same fingernail caused those marks, but that an argument with City right-back Walker exacerbated the situation.
He said: "He scratches his head, don't ask me why. It's a gesture of nervousness.
"Normally nothing happens. But that day, he had a nail which was far too sharp.
Advert
"If you remember, he started the game with a cover of the nose.
"That is because there was an argument the day before, a football argument, about positional football and where he had to play with Kyle Walker. He just got nervous, marked his nose and they put a cover on it in his own office.
"At the end of the game, he goes to the changing room and starts scratching his head.
"He goes to the press conference and his right-hand man sends him a photo and asks, 'What happened to your head?' Because you can see all of the marks.
Advert
"Pep looks at the photo and, after the press conference, goes to the coaching room. And they [the marks] were all gone. There was nothing in his head.
"It's one of those. It shows that he's tense, he's nervous, of course. He doubts, hugely, himself. He always did. And he needs a little bit of support, I think."
SPORTbible has contacted Manchester City Football Club and Kyle Walker's representatives for comment.
Topics: Kyle Walker, Pep Guardiola, Manchester City
Ryan Smart