Guardiola was angry about several refereeing decisions in the 2-1 defeat at St James' Park and seemed to vent his frustration on a TV cameraman positioned near the pitch after the match ended.

Speaking on Monday ahead of City's Champions League home match against Bayer Leverkusen, Guardiola stated: "I feel embarrassed and ashamed when I watch it. I do not approve of it.

"I apologise to the cameraman. I am who I am. Even after 1,000 games, I am not perfect and I make errors. I stand up for my team and my club."

City's loss left them seven points behind the leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, but they will quickly have the chance to recover as they face Leverkusen in what will be Guardiola's 100th Champions League match as City’s manager.

Reflecting on another milestone, shortly after reaching 1,000 games as a manager, Guardiola said: "I realise I’m getting older. That’s good. It means we have been consistent every season.

"It’s a major tournament. It’s special for the players. To compete against the best teams in Europe is incredible, a huge experience. For the club, in terms of reputation, prestige, and financial aspects, it’s extremely important."

City currently sit fourth in their Champions League group after three wins and a draw, and a home victory against 21st-placed Leverkusen would put them in a strong position to secure a top-eight finish and avoid a playoff to reach the knockout stage, a scenario that cost them dearly last season when they were eliminated 6-3 on aggregate by Real Madrid.

"Now we begin the last four matches," Guardiola said. "Two at home, two away. Tomorrow (Leverkusen) are third in the Bundesliga table. It’s a crucial game to finish in the top eight, and with tomorrow’s win plus one more point, we will qualify for the next round.

"Tomorrow is important and we must focus on what we need to do."

Guardiola confirmed that midfielder Rodri will be unavailable for the match, as will Mateo Kovacic. When asked about the Spaniard’s recovery timeline, Guardiola said: "Not long, but we are not sure exactly when he will return. We will wait a bit longer to ensure he is fully ready."