MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola bemoaned VAR's failure to rule out Fernando Llorente's decisive goal for Tottenham as Manchester City's quadruple bid was shattered by a "cruel" Champions League quarter-final exit on Wednesday (April 17).
Guardiola's side were closing in on a place in the semi-finals after staging a thrilling comeback to lead 4-2 in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
But Tottenham striker Llorente bundled home in the 73rd minute via a combination of his arm and hip, with VAR allowing the goal on review despite City's appeals for handball.
Guardiola could be seen gesturing for handball while the VAR check was made, but his protest was in vain.
Adding to the City manager's frustration, Raheem Sterling appeared to have scored what would have been the winner in the final seconds of stoppage-time, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR for offside against Sergio Aguero.
"I support VAR but maybe from one angle Fernando Llorente's goal is handball, maybe from the referee's angle it is not," Guardiola said.
"I watched the action and the people from above decided it (City's disallowed goal) was offside.
"In the moment we celebrated and we were so close to the semi-finals.
"It is cruel but it is what it is and we have to accept it."
Despite the painful end to City's attempt to win all four major trophies this season, Guardiola insisted he was proud of the effort put in by his team and their supporters.
Â
"We missed a penalty in the first leg but I am so proud of the players and the fans," he said.
"I have never heard noise like that since I have been in Manchester, but football is unpredictable."
'UNBELIEVABLE'
City now have to focus on retaining the title, with Tottenham their next opponents in the Premier League on Saturday.
"We have a lot of games from the league and FA Cup final. Today is tough and tomorrow will be tough too but the day after we will be ready," Guardiola said.
Mauricio Pochettino's men will return to Manchester this weekend on a high after one of the greatest results in the club's history.
Tottenham's only other semi-final appearance in Europe's elite club competition came in its previous guise as the European Cup in 1961-62.
Their semi-final date with Ajax will be Tottenham's first European semi-final since the 1984 UEFA Cup.
It is a personal triumph for Pochettino, who hasn't signed a single player in the last two transfer windows, yet managed to knock out one of the richest clubs in the world.
Saluting his side, who went through without injured striker Harry Kane following his injury in the first leg, Pochettino said: "It was unbelievable - the way it finished. I am so happy, so proud.
"My players are heroes to be here. I am so happy for them, so happy for the fans."
Admitting he was bewildered by the astonishing finale with Sterling's disallowed goal, Pochettino, who ended the night dancing on the pitch with his jacket off, added: "In a moment many things happened in your head, the disappointment was massive but they changed the decision.
"That is why we love football. Today we showed great character and great personality it was an unbelievable game."
Gymkhana FC were booted out of the National Football League (NFL) for failing to field a full complement of 11 players at the kick-off of three matches this year. But what has infuriated Gymkhana
"This is clearly unfair": Gymkhana FC president expresses
Believe. Get ready for Tottenham Hotspur's UEFA Champions League semi-final second against Ajax! Subscribe to Spurs TV on YouTube:
Newport manager believes shock City victory possible
May 03, 2019 · Jan Vertonghen is set to sit out Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League trip to Bournemouth as he gets over the heavy clash with team-mate Toby Alderweireld that forced him out of the Champions
Vertonghen to see neurologist over head injury - Pulse Nigeria
Interviewed by Spanish TV channel La Sexta on Sunday, the pope praised his Argentine compatriot Messi, but said he must not be called God. Two 'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets
'He's great to watch, but he's not God' - Pope sets fans
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed he has been impressed by the impact Brendan Rodgers has made at Leicester City since his arrival from Celtic in February. The Foxes have won five of their eight league games under Rodgers since he took over from Claude Puel, including a 3-0 victory over Arsenal last time out, […]
Everton Have Impressed Me - Pep Guardiola Warns of Tough Test
Having picked up 25 points since taking over, Solskjaer earned more points than any other manager has managed in his first nine games in charge of a single club in the Premier League. A 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on 28 February 2019 set a club record of eight consecutive away victories in all competitions.
Solskjaer Sold Direct on eBay | Fantastic Prices on Solskjaer
AD
Corrupt PM Tuilaepa, the Minister of Education, Loau Keneti Sio and the Director of Education have a new policy, for every teacher in Samoa to pay a $100 license before they can teach. But corrupt PM Tuialepa and his HRPP govt and the Ministry of Education did not consult with the teachers, but forced the $100 license on them.
RI set to introduce "Real ID" program by December 2018
Juventus achieved objective, despite everything going wrong - Allegri even on a night where everything seemed to go wrong," Allegri told Rai Sport. "I haven't seen the disallowed goal
Goal achieved despite everything going wrong, Football News
Watch FA Cup: Brighton face Man City in semis after beating Millwall on pens Semi-final draw: Man City v Brighton, Watford v Wolves; They'll play Manchester City in their first FA Cup semi
FA Cup semi-finals: Man City v Brighton, Watford v Wolves
LEICESTER, England (REUTERS) - Crystal Palace piled further pressure on Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Saturday (Feb 23) with a comprehensive 4-1 Premier League win over his team, who have
Crystal Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel
Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus will play the pre-season International Champions Cup in Asia and not in the United States amid the Portugal star's rape investigation there. Juve to avoid US pre-season amid Ronaldo rape claims - report | Sport24
Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus Won't Play in US ICC Matches Amid
0 comments:
Post a Comment