Pep Guardiola offers Jude Bellingham blunt advice after red card ahead Real Madrid Champions League clash

Pep Guardiola has offered sage advice to Jude Bellingham after the midfielder was sent off in La Liga for swearing.

The Real Madrid ace scored the decisive goal against Manchester City in last week's 3-2 Champions League win at the Etihad Stadium. And now he gets ready for the play off tie in the second leg on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But he and his club have been at war with the Spanish football federation after his foul-mouthed dismissal against Osasuna on Saturday. Bellingham and Madrid have said that the Englishman said "f*** off" towards referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero rather than "f*** you," which is reportedly the reason for Bellingham's red card.

Speaking in Madrid on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League clash, former Barcelona coach Guardiola said he didn't feel the translation was an issue in the incident.

"My English is good, but I don't understand the difference between f*** off and f*** you," Guardiola said. "But what's important is the intention, not the insult. The best thing is not to do it and leave the referees in peace. There have always been decisions. You should ask Jude what his intention was. That's what matters. Maybe you can insult someone with a great smile on your face and that wouldn't be that bad, right?"

Guardiola said that despite Bellingham's red card for swearing, he has not felt it necessary to tell his players to be careful with their language towards the officials. Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs will take charge the game in the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

"I would not say never, ever but rarely do I talk about the referees with my players," Guardiola said. Maybe in the circumstances where the days before it is impossible to forget because it's in the vibe of the locker room