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Football

14th Jan 2023

“I know where we play” – Pep Guardiola goes to town over controversial United victory

Lee Costello

“I asked, but got no answer.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was not happy with some of the decisions in Man United’s Manchester derby win, especially with Bruno Fernandes goal.

The Portugal star curled in an equaliser with a brilliant finish, but the argument stems from the fact that the ball was played through to Marcus Rashford who was offside.

Rashford was very clever and never actually touched the ball even though it looked like it was in his possession, and then in the last minute he left it for Fernandes to finish.

Pep Guardiola

Whether or not the United striker was interfering with play is the question that was raised here, and although the linesman give it as offside, VAR quickly intervened.

Rashford then found the winner getting on the end of Alejandro Garnacho’s cross, and Erling Haaland was denied a penalty when Casemiro seemed to get the ball and man in the same motion inside the penalty area.

Pep Guardiola was interviewed after the match and his frustration was very visible.

“Rashford was offside, Bruno Fernandes, no – intervene Rashford or not? Does it distract our keeper, and distract our central defenders, I don’t know if it’s the rule, but I know were we play.”

Of course Guardiola is referring to the fact that the game was in Old Trafford and is insinuating that they get an advantage with the officials there.

The Spaniard made a similar reference when Liverpool beat 1-0, simply stating that decisions went their way because “It’s Anfield.”

The City boss wasn’t finished there, and when asked for his opinion on the potential Halaand penalty he revealed that he questioned it to the officials but got no reply.

“I asked, but got no answer.”

“I don’t care about the Premier League and the Carabao Cup,” he added. “We cannot win. We won a lot so it’s not a problem. It’s time for another club to win.”

Manchester United are now one point behind their local rivals, and have thrust themselves into the title race, something which didn’t seem plausible as the beginning of the season.

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