Guardiola backs City after 2-0 Carabao Cup semi win amid long VAR delay

Pep Guardiola praised Manchester City after their 2-0 win at Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, a victory tempered by a lengthy video assistant referee delay that disallowed what would have been Antoine Semenyo’s second goal of the game.

Guardiola launched into a long critique of VAR, linking its perceived failings or non-involvements to City’s recent setbacks, including a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in November and last season’s FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace. He said the VAR delay had galvanised his side: "I think my players were angry. Maybe it [the VAR delay] helped us to be that way. We know how it works and it made us stronger. The spirit was there. But I feel it and smell it in every training session."

City sealed the win with Rayan Cherki’s 98th-minute goal, a strike Guardiola said leaves his team with a comfortable lead heading into the second leg at the Etihad next month.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe admitted his side had "left ourselves a mountain to climb" and said they looked "a little bit fatigued" but remained "still alive, we’re still fighting." Howe said he had no view on whether the VAR decision was right or wrong but added: "I think five minutes is too long for a VAR delay, especially on a cold night – no good for supporters or players. I’m not sure why it took so long but hopefully the right decision was made."

Key Topics

Sports, Pep Guardiola, Carabao Cup, Manchester City, Newcastle, Antoine Semenyo