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Manchester City were on the wrong end of a couple of dubious decisions in their defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.
Ruben Dias was left scratching his head over a number of decisions that went against Manchester City in their defeat to Newcastle on Saturday evening. Phil Foden had a penalty appeal waved away after he was wiped out by Fabian Schär shortly after taking a shot, then Gianluigi Donnarumma claimed he was fouled in the build-up to Harvey Barnes' second goal of the game.
Neither decision was given as City went on to lose the game 2-1. Dias spoke after the game and he expressed his frustration at the calls. The City defender said Newcastle were the better team on the night and deserved to win the game, but he admitted he was baffled by some of the decisions that had been made.
“Obviously I feel like there was one in the first half with Phil, I feel like they were saying it was very clear," he told Sky Sports. "Only the second goal I feel like we need to make it make sense, where is the sense in their player pushing our goalkeeper outside the goal? What are we allowing and for how long? It’s more like sometimes you allow it and sometimes you don’t. Where’s the rule? What can you actually do?
“In the second goal Gigio is in his place and he’s being pushed out, and there’s no consequence, it’s allowed. I didn’t even realise on the pitch, I thought it was weird he was out of position but I had the chance to see the review and Barnes is pushing him away from the goal. We’re so picky with certain contacts but one like this you allow it? If this is the rule that’s fine, let us do the same.
“Back in the day this was a foul, now apparently it’s allowed. When you lose people are going to say you find excuses but it’s nothing like that. Newcastle were better, they deserve the win, they finished more chances than us, so all I’m saying is in terms of the rule there needs to be a rule. I’ve just seen the image of the contact [on Donnarumma] and… yeah.”
City missed the chance to close the gap on rivals Arsenal to just one point with the defeat to Newcastle. Mikel Arteta's side face Tottenham on Sunday and a win will see them extend their lead over City to seven points. Chelsea's win against Burnley means City have dropped a place to third in the table.
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