Erling Haaland defied Pep Guardiola's penalty orders against Leeds United, footage shows.
Despite having a number of opportunities against his hometown club, the Norwegian striker was unable to add to his 51 goals scored in all competitions this season.
But when City were awarded a penalty after Phil Foden was clumsily brought down by Pascal Struijk, it looked as though Haaland would be presented with the chance to score his 36th Premier League goal of the campaign.
Though he blazed one over against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, the 22-year-old has a 100 per cent record from the spot in the league.
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However, captain Ilkay Gundogan placed the ball in a bid to score his first senior hat-trick after a brilliant first-half brace.
The German is normally reliable from 12 yards but hit the post with his effort, before Leeds went up the other end and pulled one back through Rodrigo.
Footage emerged of Guardiola on the touchline, clearly telling his talisman to grab the ball and take the penalty.
It didn't take a lip reader to work out that Guardiola was shouting, "Erling, you have to take it!" to Haaland, though it was Gundogan who assumed spot-kick duties.
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Player of the Match Gundogan was replaced late on by Rodri and did not share a handshake with his manager, before walking down the tunnel as soon as the final whistle sounded.
City made it a nervier finale than it needed to be but did move on to 82 points for the season and are now four clear of title rivals Arsenal after 34 games.
The Blues now travel to the Santiago Bernabeu to play Champions League holders Real Madrid on Tuesday in the semi-final first leg.
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It's a repeat of last season's semi-final fixture, where City were 5-3 up on aggregate going into the dying embers before Real scored three times to set up a final with Liverpool.
Featured Image Credit: Sky SportsTopics: Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, Ilkay Gundogan, Leeds United
