Overview
- Manchester City were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland limited to few chances before being substituted around the 80th minute.
- Guardiola’s criticism followed the Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle, where an Antoine Semenyo goal was disallowed after a roughly five-and-a-half-minute VAR check that judged Haaland offside and interfering.
- He argued that defenders are allowed to push and hold in the penalty area while fouls are swiftly called against Haaland when he makes contact.
- The City manager said he expected to hear from refereeing chief Howard Webb about the Newcastle call but reported no contact or explanation.
- Haaland’s season total remains high, yet he has only one goal—a penalty—in his last six games, which Guardiola partly attributed to a heavy schedule, and Stuart Attwell’s appointment to VAR for the derby had heightened scrutiny of officials.