Kieran Trippier has explained that he apologised to Kevin De Bruyne after catching him with a high tackle, a foul he was initially sent off for, in Sunday's thrilling 3-3 draw between Manchester City and Newcastle United.
City's 100 per cent start to their Premier League title defence came to an end at St. James' Park but they were lucky to come away with a point on a really off day. The Magpies went 3-1 ahead just after the break but Pep Guardiola's side, even when they looked dead and buried, managed to fight back with two goals in a four-minute spell.
After the leveller, City were hunting for a winner and looked to have a great opportunity when De Bruyne began breaking with speed after a Newcastle corner. However, the Belgian was then brought down in full flow by a desperate Trippier, who caught him on the knee with his boot.
Also read: Man City player ratings as De Bruyne bails out defence
The right-back, who had scored the third with a stunning free-kick, was shown a red card for the foul but the referee then overturned the decision after consulting VAR. Trippier has apologised for his foul but explained he never goes into a tackle to hurt a player.
"I would sacrifice everything for my team," Trippier told Sky Sports. "I want to win but I'm not the type of player to injure anyone. I was speaking to Kev [De Bruyne] after the game, I apologies for it, but it's my team and I want to win.
"I never go into a tackle to injure a player, I want to make that clear, and the referee overturned it."
City looked to be in for another comfortable afternoon when Ilkay Gundogan put them ahead after just five minutes but it quickly became clear that wouldn't be the case. A relentless Newcastle rattled them and deservedly went ahead through goals from Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Trippier.
However, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva both got on the scoresheet to drag their team out of the mire.
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