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."
Live match reaction for the Manchester United VS Watford game that took place today at old Trafford in the premier league finishing 2-1 to United with the goals scored by Rashford and Martial.
Rashford and Martial give United win over Watford - Football
Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season run-in. Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season run-in. Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool
Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season
english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/6/330292/Sports/Klopp-plays-down-Liverpool-fatigue-concerns-ahead-.aspx
Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season run-in. Sports Egyptian Football | Talents Abroad Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season run-in (Photo
Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season
Casillas denies he has retired from football after receiving positive update from doctors following heart attack The 167-cap Spanish legend took to Twitter to confirm he intents to carry on
Iker Casillas heart attack latest: Wife gives update from
Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid on Saturday, clinching fourth place in La Liga at the expense of Getafe who drew 2-2 at
Liga 2018-2019 : live news, photos and video - Football
SINGAPORE — With the Singapore Premier League (SPL) kicking off this month, eight of the league's nine clubs will be playing at four designated stadiums they have to share this season. Mr
Eight clubs to share four stadiums for 2019 Singapore Premier
Football: Sacked Puel says it was an 'honour' to manage Leicester and work for late owner Vichai Claude Puel's 16-month reign came to an end after the 4-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace on Feb 23
Sacked Puel says an 'honour' to manage Leicester
Football: Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. PHOTO: AFP
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad. Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - April 20, 2019 Barcelona's Clement
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad | Free
'Ask me at the end of April and I will answer you': Pep Guardiola coy on Quadruple talk after Manchester City squeeze past Swansea in the FA Cup. Manchester City kept their Quadruple ambition on
Football: Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again, Neymar to get treatment in Brazil. PSG has decided to send Neymar to Brazil for 10 days," it said, adding that the 27-year
Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again
The player put 4.85 million into his bag to secure the chip lead into the final day of the tournament at Harrah's Cherokee. Brand is vying for his second gold ring from the series. But winning the piece will be quite the challenge as there are five other previous gold ring winners left in the hunt for the top prize.
2019 WSOP Circuit - HARRAH'S NEW ORLEANS
0 comments:
Post a Comment