Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke has opened up on the conversation he had with Pep Guardiola after his side's win against Manchester City.
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Brighton beat Man City 2-1 in the Premier LeagueGuardiola and Van Hecke seen in heated discussionDefender has explained what was saidFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The City manager and the Dutch centre-back were seen having an animated discussion following the final whistle of the Premier League clash on November 9, which the Seagulls won 2-1.
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Guardiola was asked about the exchange, and explained that he praised the Netherlands international's strength against star striker Erling Haaland and gave him some advice. A week later, Van Hecke has given his recollection of the encounter.
WHAT VAN HECKE SAID
"After the game, City manager Pep Guardiola came to me. It was a nice conversation: he congratulated me on the win and said we had played well," he told . "Then he talked about my last duel with Haaland, where he thought I should have stayed on my feet. I replied that I went down but I got up again straight away – and that was it. We continued talking quietly in the players' tunnel.
"Because the conversation on the pitch was in full view, everyone asked about it. Fellow players made jokes about it, everyone wanted to know what exactly had been said. But Guardiola was also very complimentary, he said I was a good player. So I thought it was fine."
DID YOU KNOW?
While Haaland scored the opening goal, he was unable to provide a result for his side as Brighton fought back to steal the three points, and Van Hecke's Netherlands team-mates were looking for the Norwegian forward in his pockets days later.
"A few guys at Oranje looked in my pocket on Monday night as a joke, to see if Erling Haaland was supposedly still in it," he added. "But I have to be critical. We won against City, but Haaland did score, so he wasn't completely in my pocket. It went really well on Saturday. I played well, and when you win 2-1 against Manchester City, you automatically get a lot of compliments."