Pep Guardiola says he has never trusted VAR and can only rely on his Manchester City players to wrestle the Premier League title from Arsenal’s grasp.
Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the table at the weekend after West Ham United had a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out by the biggest VAR call since its top-flight introduction seven years ago.
Guardiola says his players must look at their own performances rather than the officials as he has such little faith in VAR. The City manager pointed out being on the wrong end of decisions involving the system in the last two FA Cup finals.
City must beat Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night to prevent Arsenal being one victory away from the title.
“I always learned that when you lose the focus, you are in a dangerous situation. The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control,” said Guardiola. “We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn’t do their jobs they should do, even the VAR. When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR.
“I never trust anything since they arrived a long time ago. Always I learned you have do it better, do it better, be in a position to do it better because you blame yourself with what you have to do, because [VAR] is a flip of a coin.
“You have to do better and better for yourself, and that is focusing on Crystal Palace for us. Of course it is not in our hands in the Premier League. Always when I said to the players when I arrived here and Bayern Munich and Barcelona – do it, do it, do it better. One is a job for the institutions that rule the competition.”
City face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday, having lost at Wembley the previous two years amid controversial VAR calls. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson handled outside the penalty area in last year’s final but avoided a red card, with the London club going on to win 1-0.
Crystal Palace’s Dean Henderson handled the ball outside his area in last year’s FA Cup final
In 2024, Guardiola was fuming with the officials after Erling Haaland was sent to the floor by Lisandro Martínez in the opening minute against Manchester United. Later in the 2-1 defeat he felt Haaland was being held by Kobbie Mainoo during a corner.
Arsenal kept the title in their own hands on Sunday after the win at West Ham, who had Callum Wilson’s late strike ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper David Raya by Pablo, with VAR Darren England sending on-field referee Chris Kavanagh to the screen to review the incident.
West Ham were denied an equaliser against Arsenal in the biggest VAR call since its introduction – Alex Pantling/Getty Images
“We are still fighting,” said Guardiola, who has Rodri pushing for a return from a groin injury this week and has hinted at picking his strongest team now and rotating after the Cup final. “We arrive with four days and a half, but we travel to London and then come back and then Bournemouth, so three days and three days I have to think about it.”
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