Pep Guardiola launches epic VAR rant after 'angry' Man City beat Newcastle

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola fumed as his side were denied what he felt was a legitimate goal at a ground where they have suffered previously

Pep Guardiola attacked VAR as he praised his 'angry' Manchester City players for rising above controversy to put themselves two goals up in their Carabao Cup semi-final. Antoine Semenyo had a second goal ruled out for a subjective offside after six minutes of delay but the Blues harnessed their frustration and doubled their lead in injury time to take a strong lead back to the Etihad.

Semenyo thought he had scored from a corner just after the hour mark that would have put City 2-0 up, only for a six-minute delay while the VAR team tried to decide if Erling Haaland had impacted Malick Thiaw as the ball went in. Referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the screen, and eventually told the crowd that City's No.9 was offside when Semenyo knocked the ball into the net.

Guardiola raged about the decision on the touchline, and when he was asked about the call in his post-match press conference he ranted about not just that decision but a number of calls that he felt went against City in their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle in November, in their FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace in May, and for the 'ten years' that he has been in charge.

"It’s a good question," he said. "I will say it now. I would like to know why VAR in 60 minutes in the Premier League game at Newcastle when we lost 2-1, it was 0-0 and it was an insane penalty on Schar for Phil Foden and not even a consideration. And at 20 minutes there is an unbelievable penalty from a shot from Jeremy Doku that hit Thiaw’s hand, and not even VAR.

"Today four people were not able to decide because the line was I don’t know, but the second goal that Newcastle scored (in November) the line was perfect. I’m not suspicious of that in 10 years. I didn’t say anything when we lost 2-1 here. I didn’t say anything in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace when it was a red card after 30 minutes for [Dean] Henderson. Did I say anything? No. It’s okay. It’s fine.

"In the same stadium where VAR didn’t intervene? Take a look at 60 minutes and 20 minutes. Take a look at the two penalties. Coming here and winning 1-0 or 2-0 is a big advantage and a big difference for us. I don’t give any credit from Newcastle. They won deservedly the Premier League game but why did it intervene in those two moments and today it was more than six minutes and they were not able to discuss with the referee to do it? They will call me and explain it to me."

Newcastle were cheered by the decision going their way, but City dug in and not only defended but earned another goal to take back to the Etihad for the second leg in three weeks. Guardiola believed that they channelled anger from the confusing call to make sure they would not be left complaining about a missed opportunity.

“I think they were angry," he said. "Except for one action and the immediate momentum for Newcastle that is normal, they were angry. In football in semi-finals, in any competition you have to play in that way. Maybe it helped us to be in that way. Look at how Rico (Lewis) came up, how Rayan Cherki came up, Rayan Ait-Nouri came yesterday from AFCON and made his action.

"Everyone made their contribution the same like the FA Cup game or they made against Brighton. I know it’s a pity that the games we played v Sunderland, Chelsea and others were really good and we did not score, it is fine but we were there and the spirit was there. I feel it and I smell it in every training session and we have to continue."