Mauricio Pochettino apologises to Pep Guardiola and referee Anthony Taylor after furious tirade following Chelsea's draw with Man City as Argentine admits he 'crossed the limit' and his behaviour was 'not a good image'

Mauricio Pochettino issued an apology to Pep Guardiola and referee Anthony Taylor following his furious full-time tirade after a pulsating clash at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea were forced to come from behind three times during the 4-4 draw as former Manchester City forward Cole Palmer scored an injury time penalty to clinch a dogged point against his old club.

But the breathtaking clash finished in furious fashion as Pochettino, who felt Taylor had denied his team a goalscoring opportunity after blowing the final whistle, angrily approached the officials and had to be pulled away by his own coaching staff.

Guardiola was left waiting to shake Pochettino's hand but eventually returned back down the tunnel without exchanging pleasantries with his opposing manager.

Pochettino, who was booked for his role in the episode, said: 'I need to apologise to Anthony and the referees and the fourth official.

'In the moment, I felt that maybe Raheem [Sterling] can go through and go to score the fifth.

'I deserve to be booked because I crossed the limit. It's not a good image for me and for football, this type of behaviour.'

'I want to apologise to him [Guardiola] also because in this moment I didn't see him.'

Guardiola added: 'No problem. It's fine. Emotions, it happens to me sometimes. It's fine.'

Pochettino went on to praise his side for showing 'character' to keep battling against the Premier League champions and said they showed they can dominate against a top class side.

'We showed character, mentality,' he added. 'We showed that we also have tools – against a team like City – to dominate and create chances. We are still far away in terms of the table. But now there is a different noise in the stadium and this kind of performance we can really use for the future.

'I'm very proud. So happy, I think the players deserve full credit because the performance this evening was amazing. We face a team that for me is the best team in the world.

'Of course, always things to improve but it's the process when you want to build a journey and want to build a project from zero.'

'[The game] was amazing - that is why the Premier League is the most unbelievable league in the world. Everybody wants to be involved in amazing games,' he added.

'It is difficult to talk as everyone wants to say how exciting the game was. Manchester City are the best team in the world and Chelsea were brave and tried to go for three points.'

Guardiola, meanwhile, said Chelsea had delivered on their heavy investment and said he was always expecting a tough game at Stamford Bridge, admitting his side struggled in some moments. 

'What they [Chelsea] have done in the market is to do this,' he said. 'They will be there this season and for sure in future seasons because they are built for that.

'If you expect everyone to come here and win 0-7 then you are wrong. Do you know what Chelsea have done (to build this team)? In the past it was City, City, City who have done that.

'Look at what Chelsea have done to create that fantastic team? So it's normal. I couldn't have expected a different type of game, but we were close and maybe we didn't manage perfectly in some moments - but it's football.

'Always I give credit to the opponent. They played really good. Everyone wants to beat us because you know what happened in the past is a lot.

'There's nothing to lose for them. If Chelsea lose against City people will say it's normal. That isn't the reality, always Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has been tough - since I came in this country, since I was in Barcelona, in Bayern Munich. 

'Always really tough. So why not give credit to Chelsea?'