Maresca defends City amid VAR controversy
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has lambasted the reaction to Erling Haaland’s contentious derby winner, declaring the overwhelming attention on the VAR row “quite poor,” reports BritPanorama.
City claimed a 1-0 victory on Sunday despite being reduced to ten men early on following Phil Foden’s dismissal for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. In the encounter at Old Trafford, Maresca emphasised that his players deserved more credit than the focus on VAR decisions.
“Talking about one episode or one moment after that game when we played for 70-75 minutes with 10 players, I think it’s quite poor,” Maresca said. “I think the performance was unbelievable, and I’m pleased with the performance.”
The result extended City’s winning run in the league to four matches, with Haaland’s strike on the hour mark initially flagged offside. However, after a VAR review, the goal was awarded, sparking further debate surrounding officiating standards.
Referees’ chief Howard Webb expressed frustration with the situation, stating, “The VAR gets super-focused on Haaland. He establishes he’s onside, he thinks that’s a good goal. He doesn’t truly evaluate the full impact of Fernandez’s position.” This admission has highlighted ongoing concerns about VAR’s effectiveness, with Webb confirming that the match officials involved would be stood down until after the international break.
Maresca highlighted what he views as inconsistent officiating, recalling a similar incident when he served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant. In that match, Marcus Rashford appeared to interfere with play from an offside position before Bruno Fernandes scored an equaliser for United.
“Three years ago when I was here it happened exactly the same against Man United. We lost the derby there,” Maresca recounted. “The goal was not a regular goal. To be honest, no-one apologised. We are still waiting for an apology for that goal.” He added, “Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you. It’s football.”
As for Foden’s dismissal, Maresca confirmed that City would not contest the decision, with the midfielder’s straight red card complicating the match dynamics significantly. Looking ahead to their Carabao Cup defence against Norwich, Maresca indicated significant changes to his lineup, suggesting that several academy players would get opportunities as they prepare for the Premier League encounter against Sunderland.
Reflecting on the controversy, Maresca noted the challenges faced by match officials: “It’s not easy for the VAR and the people in front of the screen. To make a decision in 10, 20 seconds is not easy for them. Sometimes they make mistakes. I make mistakes, players make mistakes. It’s part of our job.”
In a league where scrutiny is relentless and every decision can change the course of a match, the balance between human error and technological intervention remains a point of contention. Each week brings a new narrative, a reminder that in football, as in life, the lines are often blurred.
