Pep Guardiola was furious after Dominic Solanke’s contentious first goal was allowed to stand as Manchester City were pegged back to draw 2-2 with Tottenham on Sunday
Pep Guardiola was furious with the officials(Image: Sky Sports)
Pep Guardiola renewed his war against VAR after Manchester City were on the receiving end of a contentious call in their costly 2-2 draw with Tottenham. Dominic Solanke scored two second-half goals as Spurs roared back to secure a point and dent City’s Premier League title hopes.
Goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo had City cruising and 2-0 up at half-time with Spurs booed off by their own fans. But Tottenham were a completely different side after the break with Solanke netting twice.
The first Spurs goal was controversial, with Solanke appearing to kick through Marc Guehi to score past Gianluigi Donnarumma. The goal was given on-field by referee Robert Jones and allowed to stand by VAR Jarred Gillett, despite City’s protestations.
Solanke then scored a stunning scorpion kick to level things up and leave City six points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. Guardiola has made his feelings on VAR very clear recently and was once again unable to hold his tongue post-match.
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Asked by BBC Radio 5 Live what he made of Spurs’ first goal, he replied: “Well, if you do it to a striker it would be a penalty. I’m not a referee. Fascinating in the Premier League.”
He was more reserved when quizzed by Sky Sports. “Once again,” he said vaguely when asked initially. Pressed by reporter Patrick Davison, Guardiola asked: “have you seen it?” When Davison said his opinion didn’t matter, Guardiola shrugged, said “OK, I understand” and tried to walk out of the interview.
Asked a third time for his opinion, Guardiola added simply: “No, nothing. Nothing, that’s all.” Asked if he didn’t want to get drawn into it, he said: “Of course not! Come on. It happened once again. What can I say? Marc has the ball and he’s been kicked from behind and it’s a goal, so what can I say? Nothing, one more.”
Dominic Solanke’s goal was allowed to stand (Image: Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
On co-commentary duties for Sky Sports, Gary Neville felt the officials were right to allow the goal to stand. But former striker Clinton Morrison had a different take on BBC Radio 5 Live. “He kicks through Guehi,” he said. “That should be a foul. I don’t know what VAR are doing. VAR should have got involved.”
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was delighted by Solanke’s impact, but did concede the first goal was a close decision. “I think Dom [Solanke] got a clear touch on it, but I can see it is a 50-50 situation,” he said. “I think it is one of those which is borderline, but I think it can be a goal.”
Asked about the first goal by Sky Sports, Solanke smiled and said: “We know they have a high line and we wanted to exploit that at times, so I played on the last defender.
“It was a lovely ball from Xavi [Simons] and I took a touch inside and it’s definitely my goal, I don’t know why they’re saying that (it was a Guehi own goal). Obviously, I think Marc was coming in for a last-ditch tackle but it was nice finish.”
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