During an FA Cup match for Cheltenham versus Manchester City, Wrexham captain Ben Tozer admits he wanted to throw the ball at Pep Guardiola’s head.
A few months before being recruited to North Wales by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Red Dragons star lined up against the Premier League champions. He came close to a significant scalp versus City, with Cheltenham nine minutes away from executing a cup giant-killing before falling 3-1.
Guardiola was well aware of the threat Tozer presented with long throws, telling the Men In Blazers podcast what was going through his thoughts when the Catalan coach tried to stand in front of him: “I’m wanting to throw it at his head!” Create a tale! It is, in my opinion, the greatest expression of respect. I see it as a tennis player showing up and respecting their opponent, doing their homework and doing what they need to do.
They said’ref, it’s back five yards’ every time I had a throw-in. Of course, I’m attempting to get three or four yards on top of that, but it demonstrated that we were getting under their skin – the best team in the world. What a wonderful thing to take away from it.”
“I try and take the good from it,” Tozer said of seeing other City stars engage in regular bouts of gamesmanship when it came to his efforts to lob long balls towards the box: ” That, in my opinion, is the ultimate kind of respect. He’s [Guardiola] trying everything he can to win the game. He isn’t thinking, “It’s little old Cheltenham, and I’m just going to let them do whatever they want.” No, he thinks, “This is going to be their biggest threat.” That is ultimately where we obtained the aim. Rodri, who is a fantastic player, was standing in front of me, attempting to get in my mind as I took the throw-in.
He was warming up in front of me, attempting to step inside me, chatting to me and saying this and that. The ultimate expression of esteem. That is fantastic. It also demonstrates how much they want to win every game.”
Tozer is now a member of the Wrexham squad that is aiming for back-to-back promotions in 2023-24 after winning the National League title in record-breaking fashion last season. Reynolds and McElhenney have made no secret of their desire to see the Red Dragons rubbing shoulders with City and the rest of the Premier League elite in the not-too-distant future.
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