Topics: Pep Guardiola, Premier League
Pep Guardiola laid into the Premier League officials in a furious post-match rant following Manchester City's 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
City drew first blood at St James' Park thanks to goals from new signing Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki, who sealed the win in stoppage time.
With a number of first-team defenders missing due to injury, the Blues avenged a previous defeat on Tyneside earlier in the season and are good value to reach the Carabao Cup final on March 22.
But despite the win, Guardiola made a point of ripping into referees after Semenyo had a second goal controversially disallowed.
Advert
The £64 million diverted the ball home from a Tijjani Reijnders corner in clever fashion and thought he had notched his third goal for the club.
However, a lengthy VAR check which saw man in the middle Chris Kavanagh instructed to go to the screen for a 'subjective offside' resulted in the goal being chalked off.
Erling Haaland was deemed to have been in an offside position, ahead of Malick Thiaw by a toe - and interfering with play.
But the delay took five minutes and 30 seconds, with superimposed lines drawn by Stuart Attwell on VAR as the semi-automated offside technology failed due to the players being too close together.
Guardiola was not happy and proceeded to bring up two "unbelievable" and "insane" penalty incidents where VAR did not intervene in City's 2-1 loss to Newcastle in November - referencing a challenge on Phil Foden which went unpunished and a handball appeal against Thiaw.
"Four officials and VAR were not able to take the decision, they had to go to the referee," Guardiola told Sky Sports.
"I don't understand why in the Premier League game with [Fabian] Schar on Phil [Foden] why VAR didn't say anything. Then the penalty with [Jeremy] Doku and Thiaw. take a look, take a look. Go to Sky and ask the analysts - Shush, I didn't finish.
And in the second goal [for Newcastle in November's defeat], the line was really, really perfect like today, millimeters. I don't understand but I'm pretty sure the official will call me tomorrow to explain why VAR didn't intervene at 0-0 here [St James' Park] in the Premier League.
"Look back at my press conference. I didn't say anything after that game. But here, VAR intervenes but not for two unbelievable penalties.
"We know how it works and that will make us stronger. In the league game here, 60 minutes and 20 minutes, take a look.
"I said it today because we won. Tell me if I said anything after the game we lost.
"In 10 years here, I know what happens. The line was perfect today."
When pressed for an answer on what the issues are, he replied: "Ask them. Who is the boss of the referees? Ask him [Howard Webb]. It's the semi-finals. We play for a lot to reach the finals. It will make us stronger."
He then brought up the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, where Dean Henderson avoided a red card for handling the ball outside the ball.
He continued: "Did you review the FA Cup final last season? When [Dean] Henderson touched the ball outside the box. Did I say anything?
"The big clubs overcome these situations.It's part of the game, we have to do it better.
"We know it is going to happen so we have to do it better."
Guardiola was in the same vein in his press conference afterwards and said he expected a phone call and "explanation" from PGMOL chief Howard Webb.
City return to action in the Premier League on Saturday with the small matter of the Manchester derby against rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
It will be mark the first game of Michael Carrick's caretaker spell after replacing sacked Ruben Amorim.
