Pep Guardiola has once again hit out at referees, insisting that Manchester City’s success under him has been done “despite” the officials.
Guardiola criticised officials and VAR after City had a goal controversially ruled out during their 2-0 victory against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup earlier this month, also highlighting previous decisions that had gone against his side.
City were denied a penalty in their 2-0 win against Wolves on Saturday despite referee Farai Hallam, officiating his first Premier League game, watching several replays on the pitch side monitor. The ball appeared to strike the arm of Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera, though Hallam announced that his arm was in a “natural position” after reviewing the incident.
On Friday, Guardiola insisted the main reason for his side’s recent slump in form, which saw them win just two of their seven matches up until that point, was injuries.
He returned to that point on Saturday, asking for his players to return as soon as possible so that they can overcome the kind of officiating he has taken issue with publicly of late.
“Yesterday I said I had the feeling that not having the players for the last two seasons is the only regret I have,” said Guardiola. “I would love to have the players to fight against that. We won despite them. We did six PL’s in nine years so why do I not have the players. The referee made a huge debut, now everybody will know him. I think it’s the first time they go to the TV and disallowed what is a ‘normal’ position of the arms.”
Guardiola once again referenced Howard Webb, technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL), adding that he expected Webb to “appear in the media to explain why it’s not a penalty”.
Bernardo Silva reacts after Hallam makes the decision not to award a penalty (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
He then lamented what he claimed was a lack of fouls being awarded to City.
“Do you know how many fouls are whistled to Jeremy (Doku) with his incredible speed?” said Guardiola. “If you and me run side by side with our rhythm and they push us and go down, it’s diving but the speed with Jeremy they touch a little bit and he cannot control his speed. Do you know how many fouls that they believe is diving from Jeremy? At the beginning of the season they tell us that long balls when the central defenders go over the shoulders of the striker it will be a foul. We had a good meeting. Do you know how many fouls for Erling Haaland? He has had more fouls whistled against him than for him. It’s again and again. Please bring me the players back is all I want, what we have done in nine years. I’m so sorry for them.”
When asked about the link between injuries and VAR, Guardiola said: “I am saying I want to fight with my players because we have done it for many years with these decisions. Even with that we can win. You get it now? My English has to be better.”
City are next in action on Wednesday in the Champions League when they host Galatasaray in the final round of the league phase.