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Pep Guardiola has issued an ominous warning to Nicolas Otamendi after the Argentine’s first start under Manchester City’s new manager.

Otamendi was named in the centre of City’s defence for their Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday.

But Guardiola was angered by a reckless challenge from the £28.5m defender in the 5-0 win that he claimed could have resulted in a penalty.

City’s demanding manager was seen remonstrating with Otamendi and later said: “I don’t like it when central defenders go down on the pitch.

“I don’t know about last season because I wasn’t here, but we are here to get him better.

“After the two penalties for us, a little situation is going to give away a penalty against us and we have to avoid that.”

Guardiola has already demonstrated his ruthless side after dropping established players like Joe Hart, Yaya Toure and Eliaquim Mangala in his opening weeks at the Etihad.

After signing John Stones for a British record £47.5m for defender, he is still to settle on his ideal defence.

Aleks Kolarov has been deployed as a centre back, while Guardiola has warned he will play Fernandinho or Fernando at the back if his defenders fail to convince him this season.