‘Unwritten rule’: West Ham United star questions Pep Guardiola management of Erling Haaland in Leeds clash

West Ham United striker Michail Antonio questioned Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's reaction to seeing star striker Erling Haaland give his penalty-taking duties to Ilkay Gundogan last weekend.

The German midfielder had bagged a brace for City to put his side 2-0 up against struggling Leeds United and the champions looked about to wrap it all up when Phil Foden was fouled in the penalty box with just six minutes left to play.

The whole stadium expected Haaland to step up to the spot and fulfil his penalty duties with usual accuracy, but the Norweigan instead gave the honour over to Gundogan in the hopes of him securing a hat-trick.

Gundogan saw his penalty saved and Leeds managed to get a goal back in response before a nervy final five minutes saw City keep the three points. After the penalty, a seething Pep Guardiola could be seen shouting at Haaland reprimanding the 22-year-old for not taking the spot kick himself.

However, speaking on the BBC Sounds' Footballer's Football Podcast, West Ham United striker Michail Antonio sympathised with the record-breaking goalscorer.

The Hammers man argued that it was an 'unwritten rule' in the player sporting book that if a colleague is on for a hat trick, the penalty is handed over.

He said: "It's an unwritten rule. Between players, it's an unwritten rule.

"Managers don't like it because they believe their penalty taker is their penalty taker. If man's on two goals and has an opportunity to get their hat-trick, give it to them!"

Fellow podcast host Callum Wilson wasn't so sure, arguing that Haaland had a "responsibility" to put the game to bed.

After the match, Guardiola spoke about the penalty incident and clarified what had happened from his point of view.

Guardiola said: "Who knows if Erling takes the penalty and misses? What happens if Riyad takes the penalty and misses?

"What happens if Ilkay Gundogan takes the penalty and scores? The question is if it's 2-0, who is the taker? The taker is Erling or Riyad, has to take it.

"Second point is that is shows how is Erling as a person. He wants to score goals, but at the same time the team, the mates are so important.

"He had chances to score, he didn't convert but at the same time, he was outstanding. But at 2-0 especially in England, the game never is over. I wanted the taker to take it, they have more routine and specialist. That means if Erling or Riyad take a penalty, he is going to score? Maybe not. Who knows.

"He is ruthless, but at the same time if Ilkay has never scored a hattrick, he's so generous, so nice. Who knows it, the feeling is he has more confidence right now because he's taken ten or 11 penalties and has the feeling, Gundo doesn't have the feeling. I understand both sides. The game could be over for the chances.

"At 2-0 you have to close it. You don't have to give anything. If you can control you have to control. Saying that, Gundo could have scored, other ones could have missed. It's not about that. I admire that Gundo wanted to take the responsibility to take the penalty. That is the best value as a player. Normally the taker is the taker, Erling has to take it, he's the specialist."