Brighton boss Potter hoping for cuddle from Guardiola

Brighton manager Graham Potter has joked that he’s hoping to get a cuddle from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola when their teams meet in the Premier League on Saturday.

Brighton face City knowing that a victory would see them leapfrog the Premier League champions on the league standings. The Seagulls are fourth with 15 points – two less than Man City.

Potter and Guardiola were involved in a touchline spat last May when Brighton recovered from 2-0 down to secure a shock 3-2 win against the then newly-crowned Premier League champions at the Amex Stadium.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Potter said: “It was the first goal. It was a poor reaction from me – an unintentional one, but still a poor one.

“Unfortunately, I’m a human being that’s not perfect. I’ll shake his hand and hopefully he’ll give me a cuddle, but sometimes these things happen in life.”

Brighton have done well so far this season, but have drawn each of their last three league games, including goalless affairs with Arsenal and Norwich. City, meanwhile, on the back of a 5–1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League and will look to maintain the momentum.