City have felt the impact of questionable officiating in recent weeks, including matches against Newcastle, Brighton, Manchester United, and Wolves.

A particularly divisive call in the Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle caused a lengthy delay, frustrating Guardiola, while he took a calmer approach to Dominic Solanke's opening goal in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham, though he considered it a foul.

Midfielder Rodri recently stated that referees must remain neutral, even if "people do not want us to win," comments that drew criticism for implying bias against City.

Guardiola sympathised with the Spaniard's frustration after dropped points, but wants players to focus on improving themselves rather than blaming officials.

Ahead of the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle, Guardiola dismissed the notion of a refereeing conspiracy and urged his players not to use officiating errors as an excuse.

He believes Marc Guehi was fouled for Tottenham's goal but left it up to viewers to form their own opinions from the footage, continuing his public criticism of refereeing decisions while maintaining a measured perspective.

"How many years with Rodri here? Seven years? Always I've said we have to do better. He knows it. Second half score more goals, control ourselves in the second halves a little bit better. That is for sure. That is the message," said Guardiola.

"But the images are there. You can agree or disagree. Nothing is going to change, right? For me it is a foul and for you it is not. It's fine. That's why football is what it is. I'm not suspicious.

"We have to focus on what we have to do. That's why we won. I won with my team - 13 or 14 [trophies] - because the excuses were completely out. Last season showed that - no one went on about it. It was not really good. It was on ourselves.

"Here we don't blame for one day - it's on our shoulders. Here we have to do better, we have to find a way - like now. Do you think in the second half [the reason] we drop is for the referees? No. The players know it every single day. But it's a fact that what happened this season."

Itumeleng Khune's playing days for Kaizer Chiefs are officially over