Body language expert reveals Pep showed signs of HELPLESSNESS after self-attacks

Pep Guardiola showed signs of fear, frustration and even helplessness during a Manchester City press conference, showing several red spots on his head and a bloody gash on his nose, a body language expert has revealed.

Guardiola sparked concern after joking that he wanted to 'hurt himself' after City threw away a 3-0 lead to draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League last night.

The result extended his side's run to six games without a win in all competitions and after the match the disappointed Catalan repeatedly fidgeted with his face.

Guardiola was then asked about his deep nose cut and associated scratches.

“Yes, it comes from my nail on my finger,” he explained to reporters. “I cut myself with my fingernail (during the game).”

He then added: “I want to hurt myself” before smiling and leaving the room.

Expert Judi James analyzed the interview and said Guardiola carried out several small 'self-attacks' on himself, which may have stemmed from 'frustrated aggression'.

She told Mail Sport: 'Guardiola's standard, executed body language signal here is what could pass for a cheerful-looking smile, complete with crinkles at the corners.

'But, combined with his other signals of fear, frustration and even helplessness, the smile seems incongruous and more of a wry smile than anything approaching real happiness.

'He even giggles as he leaves the conference, but the ritual is so incongruous that he even gets a reassuring shout of 'Everything will be fine' from a normally unsympathetic press group.

“His head and nose scratches look like war wounds brought back from the battlefield. He even mimics his fingernail scratching his nose and the gesture looks like an angry match strike and is accompanied by a tongue-lashing of disgust and rejection at the end.

'These types of self-attacks can range from nail biting to more serious self-harm.

'Scratchy and nail-biting body language can arise from thwarted or frustrated aggression. When an animal cannot fight for any reason, it will often turn the attack on itself from a state of frustrated, aggressive arousal.

'Guardiola is clearly frustrated here and the fact that he has to watch a match instead of staying on the pitch seems to have led to this behaviour.

'On the plus side for fans, it signals totally compelling leadership, rather than someone in denial or trying to cover up fake confidence or bravado.

'His shocking, battle-scarred appearance could easily signal the possibility of a sudden, phoenix-like rise for the match against Liverpool this weekend.

'During the interview itself there are several smaller versions of these kinds of self-attacks. He has a constant ritual of scratching and squirming and he has even started scratching his nose and scalp. At one point he pinches the skin of his face and bites his pinky finger.

'When he asks the inevitable question about Anfield, his answer is quick and explosive, but his arm crosses his body in a self-protective gesture.

“He smiles wryly as he says they 'must' improve, but his gestures become a shrug, suggesting he may not know how at the moment.”

City's draw ended a run of five consecutive defeats, the worst run of Guardiola's managerial career, but the manager was left to rue his side's inability to hold on to all three points after Feyenoord scored three goals in fourteen minutes in the second half.

“We are not able to win games,” Guardiola admitted. 'As a team we always find a way over the years. At this point, nothing is happening in any other situation.”

City then travel to Premier League leaders Liverpool in a crucial clash.

'There was no need to say anything to them; they know it perfectly,” Guardiola said, when asked what he said to his players after the match.

'Three episodes and they (Feyenoord) didn't let us win.

“It is what it is and so hard to swallow. It will be a tough season for us and we have to accept that.

'We have to lift them (for Anfield). I have to lift my players up. It's my job.'

Last week, Guardiola agreed to extend his contract with City until 2027, which will give him more than a decade in charge.