TOTTENHAM MANAGER MAURICIO Pochettino admits he is still adapting to the use of VAR in football despite seeing the technology come to his side’s rescue once again to grab a draw against Manchester City.
Pochettino’s men faced a daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium to kick off their Premier League campaign, and unsurprisingly found it difficult to keep pace with the reigning champions.
Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero both scored to put City up twice over the course of the 90 minutes, although on each occasion Spurs found a way back.
Erik Lamela hit from range to cancel out Sterling’s early effort in the first half, before a header from substitute Lucas Moura tied the game at 2-2.
But all of Spurs’ exertions could have counted for nothing were it not for VAR, in use for the first time in England’s top flight.
Deep into injury time City thought they had grabbed victory through Gabriel Jesus’ goal, only for play to be brought back for a handball in the area during the build-up to the strike.
The incident was uncannily akin to Tottenham’s incredible win over the Citizens in the Champions League quarter-finals, where they also benefitted from a last-gasp decision from ‘upstairs’.
And while Pochettino is by no means a fan of the new technology, he is trying to make his peace with the advances.
We need to accept that [VAR]. I was a little bit critical of VAR but now we have to accept the rules,” the Argentine signalled after the final whistle to the BBC.
“Now it benefits us. No doubt it won’t benefit us at other times. It’s a rule we need to accept.”
Saturday’s draw cut short a run of 15 consecutive victories for City in the Premier League, dating back to the start of February.
But while Pochettino was happy to see his charges take something from the game, he nevertheless wants to see improvements as the season progresses.
I’m very pleased with a point and but also knowing we need to improve. We are in a process where we need to improve in all areas and the team is going to improve step by step but we need time,” he explained.
“It was an unbelievable goal [by Lucas Moura]. Always when you play a team like Manchester City, you have to play your best.”
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VAR is getting ridiculous This technology was introduced to help soccer and referees make correct decision Soccer should not succumb to this technology Not one person on the field (or possibly anyone in the crowd) saw this infringement and to have the games outcome be decided by someone possibly 200 miles away is a disgrace
@Anthony Doyle: the fact he’s 200 mikes away makes zero difference…..he could be sitting in the car park for all it matters….he’s watching it on TV monitors!!
@Anthony Doyle: it was the right call though.
@Alan Brazil: it was the right call as it is a handball. But the only reason it is a handball is because the handball rule was changed to accommodate the unintended consequences of VAR. A year ago it would not have been a handball; the only reason it is a handball now is because of VAR, not because there was anything wrong with the handball rule. VAR is slowly (actually quite quickly) eating away at the game.
@JoeO: still the right decision. There’s far too much at stake these days to not utilise the technology there to get it right
Right call but a stupid law