Guardiola refuses comments on VAR

By Nigel Philips, Joshua Walters.

Pep Guardiola refused to be dragged into the argument for or against the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the Premier League after his side conceded a controversial goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

The all-conquering Man City dropped their first points of the season when they came from behind to draw 1-1 in a game which saw them concede a goal that looked like a handball.

The VAR could have detected the foul and probably led to the denial of the goal.

But, when asked, after the game, if the league should consider introducing the VAR, the Spaniard replied it was not his business.

“It’s not my business. The Premier League will decide when the VRA will be here,” he stated.

Guardiola bemoaned the defensive posture of Nuno Espírito Santo's side, but commended his players’ performances.

“It was a good game, we concede too much counter attacks, we were not settled, we create a lot of chances against a team with 10 players behind and that is a good point. Wolves deserve praise.”

“People cannot imagine how difficult it is to play against good players, nine men behind the ball with the wingers. Defensively, we were not solid like we normally are. Every game we play, we learn for the next one."

Man City were the pre-match favorites, having beaten Arsenal by 2-0 at the Emirates and Huddersfield Town by 6-1 at home in the opening two games of the campaign.

The Citizens pushed forward from the blast of referee, Martin Atkinson’s, whittle, but Kyle Walker’s goal-bound strike to David Silver’s pass in the 2nd minute was blocked.

Ikay Gundogan right footed shot, from outside the box, was blocked a minute later, and the German import hit the upright with another thunderbolt in the 15th minute.

David Silva fell whiles trying a shot amid a close-marking by Ryan Bennette in the 23rd minute, but referee Mark Clattenburg turned down the visitors’ appeal for a penalty.

Sergio Aguero tore off from Conor Coady in the 38th minute, but the striker’s sensational left-footed cross again hit the woodwork before going straight into the hands of Rui Patricio.

Coady was shown the yellow card in the 41st minute for a bad tackle on Raheem Sterling, and Willy Bolly opened the scoring in the 57th minute when he beat the offside trap to connect Joao Moutinho’s in-swinger into the bottom corner despite general consensus being that the ball hit the defender’s hand.

The defending champions pulled parity in the 69th minute with Aymeric Laporte heading in Gundogan’s cross from a free kick. 

Matt Doherty deflected a shot on Benjamin Mendy’s body in the 78th minute, but the visitors were denied by the woodwork yet again in stoppage time when Sergio Aguero hit a free kick into the crossbar.