Pep Guardiola showed signs of distress, frustration and even helplessness during a Manchester City press conference in which he sported several red marks on his head and a bloodied cut on his nose, a body language expert has revealed.
Guardiola sparked concern after joking that he wanted to 'harm 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 matches without a win in all competitions and post-match, the disappointed Catalan repeatedly fidgeted with his face.
Guardiola was then asked about his deep nose cut and accompanying scratches.
'Yes, it's 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 harm myself' before smiling and leaving the room.
Analysing the interview, expert Judi James said that Guardiola performed several small 'self-attacks' on himself, which may stem from 'frustrated aggression'.
She told Mail Sport: 'Guardiola's default, performed body language signal here is what could pass for a cheerful-looking eye-smile complete with crinkling at the corners.
'But, combined with his other signals of distress, frustration and even helplessness, the smile appears incongruent and more of a wry smile than anything approaching genuine happiness.
'He even giggles as he leaves the conference but that ritual is so deeply incongruent he even gets a reassuring cry of "You'll be OK" from a normally unsympathetic press pack.
'His head and nose scratches look like war wounds brought back from the field of battle. He even mimes his fingernail scratching down his nose and the gesture looks like an angry striking of a match and comes with a tongue-poke of disgust and rejection at the end.
'Self-attacks like this can vary from chewing fingernails to more serious self-harm.
'Scratching and nail-biting body language can occur from thwarted or frustrated aggression. When an animal can't fight for any reason it will often turn the attack on itself from a state of frustrated aggressive arousal.
'Guardiola is obviously frustrated here and the fact he has to watch a game rather than getting stuck in out on the pitch seems to have led to this behaviour.
'On the plus side for the fans, it does signal a totally immersive leadership rather than someone in denial or trying to bluff out fake confidence or bravado.
'His shocking, battle-scarred appearance could easily signal the potential for a sudden, phoenix-like rising for the Liverpool game on the weekend.
'During the interview itself there are several smaller versions of self-attacks like this. His is an ongoing ritual of scratching and squirming and he even starts scratching his nose and his scalp. He pinches the skin on his face at one point and bites at his little finger.
'Asked the inevitable question about Anfield his answer is quick and explosive but his arm crosses his body in a self-protective gesture.
'He offers that wry smile as he says they "have to" improve but his gestures become shrugs, suggesting he might be at a loss to know how right now.'
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 onto all three points after Feyenoord scored three goals in 14 second-half minutes.
'We are not able to win games,' admitted Guardiola. 'As a team, always we find a way over the years. Right now, in another situation, nothing happens.'
City next travel to Premier League leaders Liverpool in a crunch showdown.
'It was not necessary to say anything to them - they know it perfectly,' said Guardiola, when asked what he said to his players post-match.
'Three episodes and they (Feyenoord) didn't allow us to win.
'It is what it is and so difficult to swallow. It will be a tough season for us and we have to accept it.
'We have to lift them (for Anfield). I have to lift my players. It is my job.'
Last week, Guardiola agreed to extend his City contract until 2027, which will take him up to a decade in charge.
