Online Reporter
PEP GUARDIOLA admits he has never trusted refs and VAR during his ten years in England.
And he is warning his Manchester City stars they cannot rely on officials to give them a helping hand as they chase more silverware.
Rivals Arsenal got the benefit of a huge call by the video assistant at West Ham on Sunday as they stayed in control of the title race.
Boss Pep claims he is used to key moments going against them — not least in the last two FA Cup finals.
Ahead of last night’s clash against Crystal Palace, he said: “We lost those finals as refs didn’t do the job they should do — even the VAR.
“So we have to do better. Not refs and VAR, I’ve never trusted anything since I arrived a long time ago.”
In last season’s Cup final loss — against Palace — City were stunned as keeper Dean Henderson was not sent off for handling outside his area.
Ironically the ref that day, Stuart Attwell, takes charge against Palace.
A year earlier, bitter rivals Manchester United produced a surprise win — but two penalty appeals by Erling Haaland were waved away.
And Guardiola added: “I learn you have to do it better, get in the position to do better and then you can only blame ourselves.
“Because VAR is a flip of a coin. You have to do better for yourself — and that is Palace and focus and focus.
“When I arrived here, I had been at Barcelona and Bayern Munich and I just said, ‘Do it better, do it better’.
“The other stuff is a job for the institutions who make the rules.”
Arsenal’s 1-0 win over West Ham came after a last-gasp Hammers leveller was ruled out for a foul amid VAR intervention.
The Gunners’ final two Prem games are against Burnley and Palace, with City five points behind having played a game less.
Yet Guardiola reckons his players must not lose heart, adding: “Of course it’s not in our hands.
“The important thing is Palace and we see what happens in the next ones.
“I’ve learned when you lose focus, you are in a dangerous situation.” – The Sun
