PEP GUARDIOLA WAS ‘sorry’ to see Manchester City beat Swansea City in the FA Cup quarter-finals by benefiting from the lack of VAR at the Liberty Stadium.
City found themselves 2-0 down after 29 minutes, as Swansea’s excellent first-half performance put them on course for a famous upset.
But Bernardo Silva’s fine outside-of-the-boot effort pulled one back 21 minutes from the end, before Raheem Sterling contentiously won a penalty despite Cameron Carter-Vickers appearing to get the ball – Sergio Aguero’s effort going in off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Aguero then completed the turnaround at the end with a header despite appearing to stray offside and, had VAR been in use, their second and third goals arguably would have been disallowed.
The technology is in use in the FA Cup and was available at the Liberty Stadium last season, but the Football Association is reported to have opted against equipping the ground with VAR since their relegation to the Championship.
Guardiola was rueful about the decision in his post-match news conference, saying: “All around Europe there is VAR, here there is not. I don’t like to win in that way. I am sorry.”
The win saw City keep their hopes of winning a famous quadruple alive, though Guardiola is not getting carried away thinking about such achievements.
“Ask me again in April, the end of April, ask me this question and I will answer,” Guardiola told BT Sport when asked if they can complete the quadruple.
“I want to congratulate the team and everybody. We are satisfied to be in contention. I know I’ll be a failure if I don’t win all the titles, I’m sorry,” the City boss quipped.
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That’s some half backline UCC have, intercounty standard! Maybe a bit light in the forwards with conway being the only standout name. But hopefully they will get a few more big names back from defeated clubs after this weekend.
Hope UCC win the cork championship, to highlight how crazy it is that they can compete.
@Gareth Ward: not a bad sub tipp senior mark kehoe
@Gareth Ward: “but hopefully they will get a few big names back”. Is that because they were playing with their clubs and not available tonight? Can you see how stupid your comment is when you look at it like that! UCC bring nothing to the Cork SHC. Amend the rules now so that students at the start of the season have to declare for their club or college. But can’t play with both. Let’s see how many Paddy Cadells /Paddy O’Loughlins they have then.
@Johnny B: Read my comment again and you’ll understand son. That is exactly what i mean. As i said i do hope they win it to highlight how crazy it is that they can take part.
I don’t particularly care what they add to the cork championship, which is why i want them to win!
@Gareth Ward: apologies. Twas late when I read your comment (and was after a few pints). Didn’t read it properly. Apologies again.
@Johnny B: Apparently they can get back montgomery from from waterford. And bill sheehan from dicksboro can play as well when he’s available. Assuming mark kehoe will start in the next game, they’ll have quiet a strong forward unit built up then!