Guardiola’s Side Faces Controversy in Draw with Spurs

Manchester City seemed to be on track for victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, taking a commanding two-goal lead with efforts from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. The home crowd expressed their displeasure, booing Spurs off the pitch at halftime.

However, under increasing pressure, Thomas Frank managed to galvanize his team into a remarkable comeback, led by Dominic Solanke. He scored Spurs’ first goal, benefitting from a deflection off Marc Guehi, and followed it up with an impressive scorpion kick to equalize.

The match concluded in a draw, leaving City six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. The Blues are concerned that their title aspirations are being hindered by a series of contentious officiating decisions.

Significant VAR calls have not gone in City’s favor in recent encounters against Newcastle, Manchester United, and Wolves. The team believes that Solanke’s challenge on Guehi significantly altered the momentum of a game that was slipping away from Spurs.

Post-match, Rodri addressed the media, candidly expressing his frustrations. He stated, “We know we have won a lot, and people may not want us to win, but referees must remain neutral. It’s unfair because we put in so much effort, only to face these decisions. We need to move forward, but it’s frustrating when the foul is so clear.”

He continued, emphasizing the importance of small details in the league: “These little things can make a big difference. Today was particularly challenging for us in that respect.”

Rodri also lamented the perceived misfortune regarding VAR, saying, “I don’t know how to feel. Now that I’ve seen the footage, it’s evident. On the pitch, it’s hard to see, but it’s a clear foul in the build-up to their goal. If they hadn’t scored, perhaps we would have won. It’s a recurring issue over multiple games, and I’m not sure why.”

Pep Guardiola echoed his player’s sentiments, expressing dissatisfaction with the officiating during the match. Commenting on the incident involving Solanke and Guehi, he remarked, “Once again… Have you seen it? Nothing has changed. Marc was kicked from behind, leading to a goal, and yet no action was taken. It’s frustrating.”

Guardiola further noted, “If the same action were directed at a striker, it would undoubtedly result in a penalty. I’m not a referee, but it’s perplexing in the Premier League.”

Looking ahead, City faces a critical week, with a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, followed by a challenging match against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.