Guardiola Defends Haaland Amid Controversial Referee Decisions

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his discontent over what he perceives as unfair treatment of star striker Erling Haaland by referees regarding fouls committed by defenders.

The prolific striker was at the center of a contentious incident during Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semifinal against Newcastle on Tuesday, where a goal by Antoine Semenyo was disallowed. Haaland, who was in an offside position, was adjudged to have interfered with play following a VAR review, which extended the game by five-and-a-half minutes.

Guardiola not only disagrees with this decision but also believes that Haaland is being disproportionately targeted. “He is the only striker in the world who commits more fouls than defenders do on him,” Guardiola asserted. “This is his most significant attribute, and it is remarkable. In my experience, I have never seen a striker who causes more fouls against defenders than the fouls committed against him.”

He further expressed his confusion regarding the inconsistency in officiating, noting, “At the beginning of the season, the referees indicated that the situation would be the opposite, yet it has turned out to be quite the contrary. Have you observed the situations in the penalty boxes, not just involving Manchester City? There are instances of pushing and holding that go unpunished. It’s perplexing that every time Erling makes contact with an opponent, it’s deemed a foul on his part.”

Despite Haaland’s impressive tally of 29 goals in 26 appearances this season, he has only scored once, via a penalty, in the last six matches. Guardiola acknowledged that Haaland might be feeling the strain of the busy schedule but remains confident in his ability to regain form.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Erling on our team throughout the season,” Guardiola remarked. “Without him, we would not be in our current position. He contributes significantly and is continually improving in various aspects.

“The fixture congestion is immense, with matches occurring every three days, leaving less time for recovery amid challenging conditions and against tough central defenders. It’s undeniably difficult, but I am confident he will return to his best.”

Manchester City will return to Premier League action on Saturday as they prepare for a short derby trip to face rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.