Guardiola Criticizes VAR Decisions After Man City’s Cup Victory

Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration with VAR decisions following Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final. The match, held at St. James’ Park on January 10, 2024, saw City players channel their anger from contentious calls to secure a strong lead heading into the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

In the early stages, City had a goal by Antoine Semenyo ruled out after a lengthy review for offside, which left Guardiola and his team visibly frustrated. Despite this setback, City doubled their lead with a goal in injury time, demonstrating resilience against the backdrop of VAR controversy.

Guardiola’s Strong Word on VAR

After the match, Guardiola did not hold back in his criticism of the Video Assistant Referee system. He pointed to several key moments from past matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League last November, where he felt that crucial penalties were overlooked. “I would like to know why VAR in 60 minutes in the Premier League game at Newcastle when we lost 2-1, it was 0-0 and it was an insane penalty on Schar for Phil Foden and not even a consideration,” he stated during the post-match press conference.

Guardiola highlighted specific moments, like a handball incident involving Newcastle’s Malick Thiaw, which went unpunished, contrasting it with the offside call against Haaland that negated Semenyo’s goal. The manager remarked, “Today four people were not able to decide… but the second goal that Newcastle scored (in November) the line was perfect.”

His comments underline a growing frustration with the VAR system and its inconsistencies, particularly in high-stakes matches. Guardiola mentioned previous disappointments, noting, “I didn’t say anything when we lost 2-1 here,” referring to the earlier match against Newcastle, and adding that he had also remained silent after the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.

Channeling Frustration into Performance

Despite the VAR decisions, Guardiola praised his players for overcoming the adversity. “I think they were angry,” he said. “In football in semi-finals, in any competition you have to play in that way. Maybe it helped us to be in that way.” His team not only defended against Newcastle’s attacks but also scored another goal to ensure their advantage.

Guardiola commended the contributions of his squad, noting the performances of players like Rico Lewis and Rayan Cherki. He expressed confidence in their spirit and determination, stating, “I feel it and I smell it in every training session and we have to continue.” With the second leg approaching in three weeks, City will look to maintain this momentum as they aim for a place in the final.

The result sets up an intriguing return match, with City holding a strong position and the team eager to build on their performance. As Guardiola continues to navigate the challenges of officiating in modern football, his focus will remain on ensuring his players are ready for the next battle.