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."
Sergio Aguero's hat-trick led Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and back into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool. The victory put the pressure on Liverpool ahead off their trip to West Ham United on Monday.
Aguero hat-trick fires Man City to 3-1 win over Arsenal
Everton Football Club (/ ˈ ɛ v ər t ən /) is a football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football.The club have competed in the top division for a record 116 seasons, missing the top division only four times (1930-31 and three consecutive seasons starting with 1951-52) since The Football League was created in 1888.
Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur "need to believe" they can still win the Premier League title after his side responded to Leicester City's victory over Sunderland with a
What the Spurs need to do to have a successful offseason
Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman said on Tuesday the club will pay the fee for striker Emiliano Sala if they are contractually required to do so. Sala had signed for the Premier League side and was flying to his new team from his old club Nantes in France when his plane went missing over the Channel on January 21.
Cardiff to pay Sala fee if necessary - Report | New Straits
'We need to play there thinking to win': Unai Emery insists Arsenal will attack Valencia in Europa League semi-final. Arsenal take a 3-1 lead into Europa League semi-final second leg at Valencia
Unai Emery Admits He Doesn't Know if Aaron Ramsey Will Play
Liverpool go top with Salah winner vs. Saints. Mohamed Salah scored a classy winner as Liverpool beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's on Friday night to return to the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds at the end of their English Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 12, 2019.
Football: Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3 with 10-man Tampines Rovers. Tampines Rovers and Hougang United players in action during their Singapore Premier League match at Our
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3
Soccer: Hegerberg-less Norway canter past Nigeria Saturday, June 08, 2019 4:12 p.m. CDT Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group A - Norway v Nigeria - Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims, France - June 8, 2019 Norway's Guro Reiten
Soccer: Hegerberg-less Norway canter past Nigeria | News | i106.7
Og Mandino's Ten Vows of Success (a synopsis of Og Mandino's The Greatest Salesman in the World, Part Two with comments by Steven A. Hitz) VOW 1: NEVER AGAIN WILL I PITY OR BELITTLE MYSELF "Success, when it comes overnight, often departs with the dawn. I am prepared, now, for a life-
Renewing Vows After Many Years - Sample Ceremony Script
Watford winger Richarlison will have a medical at Everton on Monday before finalising his £44million move. The fee, understood to be an initial £35m with add-ons, could represent a potential £
Melee at UFC 229 after Nurmagomedov beats McGregor | 650 CKOM
0 comments:
Post a Comment