'Are you crying?' Lip-reader reveals what Pep Guardiola really said to van Hecke

A lip-reader has revealed what Pep Guardiola said to Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke after the defender's clash with Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City manager appeared to have an animated exchange with van Hecke following the Seagulls' dramatic 2-1 win at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

City’s defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss.

The tension between Haaland and van Hecke reached a boiling point in injury time, with both players booked after a clash in Brighton's penalty area.

Guardiola, visibly animated, approached van Hecke on the pitch immediately following the final whistle.

While Guardiola hasn’t publicly confirmed everything that was said, lip-reader Jeremy Freeman told the Daily Mail that he analysed the footage and believes he’s deciphered the exchange.

• See what Pep had to say on the incident here

According to Freeman, Guardiola began by saying, "Are you joking? Are you serious?

"You don’t do that."

He then supposedly questioned Van Hecke further, saying, "Are you crying?"

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (Image: Adam Davy) Freeman claims that Guardiola followed up with, "Fair play for that…” prompting a confused van Hecke to ask, "Why?" Guardiola reportedly replied, "No, come on baby… No… No, let’s go clap. You played a good game. I still like to congratulate you."

Freeman believes Guardiola ended the conversation with, "Congratulations, anyway… Enjoy your night."

Speaking to The Argus after the match, van Hecke shrugged off the encounter, describing Guardiola as gracious in defeat.

“He just congratulated me. I told him they have a great team,” van Hecke said.

He reflected on the respect he holds for Guardiola, recalling City’s dominant performance last season when they defeated Brighton 4-0. He added: “I felt like the whole game I was in the rondo! I only have a lot of respect for him.”