PEP: IF I’M CONFUSED, THERE’S A PROBLEM
VAR will be flawed unless the rule book is clearer
RAHEEM STERLING was in an offside position, at least everyone agreed on that. But active? Inactive? Even referee Paul Tierney and his assistant Adrian Holmes saw it differently.
After three minutes of deliberation they gave the goal to Manchester City — wrongly, it seems.
How could Sterling not be active when he had attempted to play the ball and diverted Daryl Janmaat’s clearance into the net? It was a point endorsed by referees’ chiefs yesterday who confirmed it should have been an indirect free kick to Watford for offside.
City’s first goal came at a crucial moment, 42 seconds into the second half. It calmed their nerves on a day when the title race was threatening to take an unexpected twist and ‘killed’ Watford, according to midfielder Etienne Capoue.
‘The referee made a very wrong decision,’ said Capoue. ‘It was obvious. We just couldn’t believe what happened to us.’
There is a wider issue here. The introduction of VAR next season is all well and good, but both managers agreed the system is flawed unless the rule book is made clearer. ‘If we’re confused by the rules, that’s a problem,’ said Pep Guardiola, who pointed out City were denied a similar goal in the Champions League semi- final against Liverpool last season.
‘Right now, half an hour after the game has finished, it’s confused. Imagine for the referee taking a decision in one second?
‘You have to follow the rules and these kind of situations will always happen with interpretation for the referees. Hopefully in the future everyone can help and they will do that (clarify the rules).’
It was a cruel blow for Gracia, who made seven changes with this weekend’s FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace in mind and saw his team frustrate City in the first half. ‘I don’t think VAR is the solution,’ he said. ‘The solution is first of all to have the rules made clear. I’m sure VAR will help referees to make less mistakes, but first of all we have to know the rules and to know if it’s offside or not offside.’
It changed the dynamic of the game. Within 13 minutes, Sterling had scored two more to complete his hat-trick and ensure that City finished the weekend on top of the table with a sixth Premier League win in a row. Two minutes later, Watford substitutes Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu combined to claw back a goal.
On Sterling, City skipper Vincent Kompany said: ‘For me, he is one of the best wingers in the world. He is so, so important for us. To have the ability to unlock defences when they defend with so many bodies is the sign of a top player.’
Guardiola, on the other hand, thought differently. ‘Raheem can do better,’ said the City boss. ‘He scored three goals and we’re delighted, but the first half was not the best performance from him.’
It was one of those days when nobody seemed to agree. GUARDIOLA has told midfielder Ilkay Gundogan he should leave City if he is not going to sign a new deal.
Gundogan, 28, is out of contract at the end of next season and has indicated he may wait to make a decision over his future.
‘I would prefer he stays but at the same time I want to feel that he wants to stay,’ said Guardiola. ‘If he doesn’t want to stay, he has to leave.
‘But he doesn’t want it right now so we will wait.’