‘From one angle Fernando Llorente’s goal is handball’: Pep Guardiola backs VAR after Manchester City’s dramatic Champions League defeat by Tottenham… but claims winning goal shouldn’t have stood
Pep Guardiola gave his backing to VAR but claimed Tottenham’s decider was handball on one of the craziest nights in Champions League history.
Raheem Sterling thought he had sent Manchester City through to the semi-finals deep into stoppage time, only for Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir to correct chalk his goal off for offside after studying replays.
Guardiola is an advocate of VAR but suggested Cakir was not afforded the definitive angle to adjudge whether Fernando Llorente had bundled in the 73rd-minute clincher with his arm. Tottenham now face Ajax after emerging victorious on away goals.
Pep Guardiola has given his backing to VAR but claimed Tottenham’s decider was handball
Raheem Sterling scored an injury-time winner for City but it was ruled out for offside by VAR
‘I support VAR, but from one angle Llorente’s goal is handball,’ Guardiola said. ‘I am fine for the fair decisions, the fair football. The referee must be helped.’
Sergio Aguero stood in an offside position before Sterling appeared to have completed his hat-trick and sent City into the last four before the Etihad Stadium was left stunned at the end of a night dripping in drama.
Guardiola added: ‘If he’s offside, he’s offside. In the future and even in the present it will be fair. I’ve seen the action. The referee decided it was offside, so OK. With VAR last season (against Liverpool) it would’ve been completely different.’
Mauricio Pochettino hailed his Tottenham heroes after seeing City off in such surreal circumstances.
Fernando Llorente scored the decisive goal for Spurs, awarded after a review by the officials
‘It was unbelievable – the way it finished,’ Pochettino said. ‘I am so happy, so proud. My players are heroes to be here. I am so happy for them, so happy for the fans.
‘In a moment many things happened in your head, the disappointment was massive but they changed the decision. That is why we love football. Today we showed great character and great personality it was an unbelievable game.’
Guardiola lamented individual mistakes over the two legs. Sergio Aguero fluffed a penalty down in the capital and Aymeric Laporte made two huge errors on Wednesday night.
‘We missed a penalty in the first leg,’ the City boss added. ‘We created an incredible amount of chances today. We reacted well.
‘It’s tough. We were so close. It’s cruel. We have to accept it. It is what it is. It’s a nice game for everyone. We did everything in the second half.
Guardiola shakes the hands of the referee following an incredible 90 minutes on Wednesday
Moments earlier the Manchester City boss was on his knees after VAR ruled out Sterling’s goal
‘Thank you to the fans. An incredible reaction. I’ve never seen the stadium like it was today since I came in Manchester. They know we gave absolutely everything and football is like this, unpredictable.
‘We were honest in the way we played. What we’ve done in these two seasons is incredible. I’m so proud. This club have only made the semi-finals once in their lives.
‘We’ve made mistakes and this competition punishes you a lot. Unfortunately it was a bad end for us.’
Christian Eriksen was left counting his lucky stars after seemingly gifting City a late winner, only for his errant backpass to flick off Bernardo Silva before arriving at the offside Aguero’s feet.
‘I must be one of the luckiest guys on the planet tonight,’ Eriksen admitted. ‘I thought it was all over but it was a fun game. Thank God the ref gave offside. It was a rollercoaster, it was goals, goals, goals. We gave them a lot but also got a lot – it was a weird game.’
Eriksen returns to his former club Ajax and added: ‘After today we take a deep breathe, it will be a fairytale to play them and fun to be back in the (Amsterdam) Arena again.’
Mauricio Pochettino hailed his Tottenham heroes after they saw City off in such circumstances