Champions League: Pep Guardiola speaks, apportions blames as Tottenham sends Man City out
- Admin
- Apr 18, 2019
- 2 min read
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has reacted to their elimination from the Champions League on Wednesday.
City suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the first leg of the quarter final in London.
Tottenham qualified for the semi final on away goal rule after losing 4-3 at Manchester on Wednesday.
Both legs ended 4-4 on aggregate.
Pep Guardiola told reporters that the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, played a role in their defeat.
With the tie finely poised following a Sergio Aguero goal to put the hosts ahead on aggregate at the Etihad Stadium, Tottenham’s Fernando Llorente bundled the ball over the line.
The incident was analysed by the video assisted referee with claims that the Spaniard had used his hand. In fact, the ball had gone in off his hip.
As the clock ticked down with five minutes of injury time, Raheem Sterling beat Hugo Lloris at the other end of the pitch. City thought they’d won it. The England star believed he’d sealed a famous hattrick.
However, VAR made another decision that went against Guardiola’s side to rule out the goal due to Sergio Aguero.
The Argentinian had strayed into an offside position in the build up.
Guardiola said, “It’s tough. It’s cruel but we have to accept it. Second half we did everything. We scored the goals we needed but it was a bad end for us.
“Last season is last season. It’s the past. Today we made mistakes for the first two goals. What we have done in two seasons is incredible.
“I don’t know. It’s tough in the moment. I’m so proud of the fans and it was an amazing night for us. We are sad for all of them but we gave absolutely everything.”
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