Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola showed how he really feels about VAR after conceding two penalties that changed the game and having a player shown a red card in a Champions League last-16 first-leg 3-2 win at Schalke.
He is a “big fan of VAR”surprisingly after Nabil Bentaleb scored the two first-half penalties
City gifted Schalke a 2-1 lead in Gelsenkirchen courtesy of two penalties, the first a handball against Nicolas Otamendi and the second for a Fernandinho push on Salif Sane from a free-kick, before the Argentine defender was also later dismissed for a second yellow card.
Bentaleb’s first penalty was awarded via VAR. Otamendi was adjudged to have handled Daniel Caligiuri’s shot, a decision that took around three minutes to take. The delay came because pitchside monitors for the referee, Carlos del Cerro Grande, did not work and so the verdict was finally taken by the studio-based officials.
“It’s a penalty. The second one is a penalty too,” said Guardiola. “Offside too. And the red card can be a red card.
“I trust VAR. I have arguments sometimes but not this time. They are both penalties.”
The Premier League champions would go on to wrap up a sensational last-minute comeback win through Raheem Sterling, but while Guardiola was pleased with the result, the performance left him worried about their hopes should they progress to the latter stages.
“We gave away the goals and the red card,” said Guardiola. “We’re not ready to fight for the Champions League, but the result is good.
“I know how difficult it is to play in Germany. They didn’t have a shot on target and scored twice. If they’d scored a third or fourth, then maybe we’re out. Hopefully or fans can help us for the second leg.
“To go away from home and score three goals, and the way we reacted at 10 men, we played incredibly well. I’m delighted but it’s not enough [to win the competition]. “