AGUERO’S NUCLEAR SUBBED
Moura: Thanks a lot VAR’ Twitter in race talks Sergio goes ballistic after Pep hauls him off
conjured up 30 chances – and thought they had pulled off a 16th consecutive Premier League victory.
But then an effort from Gabriel Jesus in added time was chalked off when VAR intervened.
Technology spotted a cross hit Aymeric Laporte’s arm before a goalmouth scramble led to the strike by Jesus.
That left City boss Pep Guardiola rubbing his eyes in disbelief after seeing lightning strike twice.
He said: “I thought we left that situation behind with Tottenham in the Champions League last season.
“But it is the same. The referee and VAR disallow it.
“It’s the second time – it’s tough. But it’s the way it is.”
City star Kevin De Bruyne said: “I don’t really agree with the law but it’s something we need to adjust to. I’m old school – I love the flow of the game and the enthusiasm.”
Spurs boss Pochettino said: “Now it benefits us.
“No doubt it won’t benefit us at other times.”
Spurs’ equalising hero Lucas Moura said: “It was crazy when the City goal was ruled out. Only VAR can see – and thank you for it.” KICK IT OUT chiefs will consider asking Twitter to create a special unit to protect black players from racist attacks on its platform.
The social media giant has agreed to talks with the group on how to prevent a repeat of the racist abuse suffered by Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham last week.
After missing the crucial spot-kick in the Blues’ UEFA Super Cup shoot-out defeat to Liverpool, the England hitman received a torrent of racially-motivated posts.
Kick It Out’s Mark Sandell said: “We have to work out with them what more can be done to prevent this happening at the time – rather than just saying it is unacceptable afterwards.”
Steve Bates
SERGIO AGUERO might be football royalty at Manchester City – but Pep Guardiola is THE boss.
After his famous 93:20 goal in 2012, Aguero’s a bigger part of City’s history than Guardiola himself.
But in the cut and thrust of combat, history counts for nothing with Guardiola – even if you’ve just dug your team out of trouble with a goal.
If he’s got the hump with you nothing will save you from the wrath of the City manager – it’s inevitable you’ll cop it.
Truculence
And at the Etihad yesterday Guardiola gave Aguero both barrels – on the pitch and off – as the prospect of dropping early points in their battle with Liverpool saw the Spaniard lose the plot with his striker.
As the City boss substituted the thunder- faced Argentine after 65 minutes, Guardiola seemed angered by Aguero’s truculence and the pair clashed.
Assistant Mikel Arteta tried to usher his boss away, but Guardiola ranted on in Aguero’s direction while the South American star sullenly took his seat on the bench.
It was a window into the world of Guardiola and his stars – and the intense hot-house schooling methods employed by the City boss that teaches perfection and leaves no room for defiance from his pupils.
It might be early season but Guardiola knew the importance of three points against a Spurs side who again showed they’ll be on the coat-tails of last season’s Champions.
That’s why he was demanding everything and more from his stars. And, in Pep’s eyes at least, Aguero wasn’t delivering what he wanted. Cue trouble.
Aguero had the hard word from Guardiola seconds after Erik Lamela equalised Raheem Sterling’s classy opener to make it 1-1 in this scintillating clash.
The animated hand gestures and dialogue from the City boss told the striker he’d not tucked back in when Spurs started the attack that led to Lamela’s goal.
Magical
Aguero’s response was swift, deadly and super- satisfying, restoring City’s lead inside three minutes of his ear-bashing after a second magical assist from Kevin de Bruyne.
But the 31-year-old strike star bore the brunt of Guardiola’s anger for his positioning seconds before Lucas Moura equalised with a fine header to make it 2-2, though the goal was not his fault.
Taking on Guardiola is not the brightest of ideas.
But maybe someone had whispered an unwanted record in Aguero’s ear that he’d become the most substituted player in Premier League history, being hooked for the 117th time, overtaking Damien Duff.
By the end, though, the pair seemed to have patched up their differences and were hugging on the touchline as City celebrated what they thought was Gabriel Jesus’ last-minute winner.
That was until VAR correctly ruled out the goal for a hardly intentional handball by defender Aymeric Laporte as De Bruyne swung in a corner that was curled into goal by Jesus.
City will feel hard done by but they had plenty of opportunities to put this match away and only have themselves to blame.
Unluckily for Aguero, he was in Guardiola’s sights yesterday. But there were other culprits as City squandered a host of second-half chances.
Astonishing
A word for Tottenham, though, amid all the mayhem.
They operated on a fraction of City’s chances but were clinical when the moment came.
In the opening 15 minutes City held an astonishing 85 per cent possession advantage over Mauricio Pochettino’s stars who just couldn’t get the ball.
Sterling’s headed opener was almost inevitable.
Lamela’s equaliser for 1-1 was top drawer but score against City, though, and it’s only going to make them angry.
Minutes after his rollicking Aguero popped up with the second from De Bruyne’s cross as City swarmed forward.
In the end they couldn’t find a winner which didn’t help Pep’s anger.
Next up f or City are Bournemouth. Look out Eddie Howe!