Swansea 2-3 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola says sorry as his side benefit from lack of VAR in FA Cup

Swansea 2-3 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola says sorry as his side benefit from lack of VAR in FA Cup
Pep Guardiola apologised for Manchester City booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with a controversial defeat of Swansea, with VAR not being used throughout Saturday’s match.City were the beneficiaries of two contentious decisions in fighting back from 2-0 down after 69 minutes to keep their quadruple hopes alive.The Premier League champions were trailing 2-1 when awarded a penalty 12 minutes from time – Raheem Sterling went to ground, even though Swansea defender Cameron Carter-Vickers had appeared to get a touch on the ball.2

City equalised through a contentious penalty

Substitute Sergio Aguero also seemed to be in an offside position when he headed home the winner two minutes from time to complete the City comeback.“You have to ask the authorities why VAR is not here,” City manager Guardiola said.“All around it is there, but here it is not.“If it’s not a penalty and it’s also offside, I am sorry. I don’t like to win games when decisions are wrong. It’s not easy.” Swansea said the club was set up to use VAR given their history of being in the Premier League between 2011 and 2018.But a club spokesman said the Football Association told them that VAR would not be used at the Liberty Stadium, even though it was in operation at other quarter-final ties around the country.“We are in the dark ourselves over the non-use of VAR here and that it would only be used in Premier League stadiums,” the spokesman said.“That seems a bit strange considering we were there for seven years and all the technology is placed here to accommodate it.”The VAR row overshadowed an excellent Swansea display which saw Graham Potter’s side take a 2-0 half-time lead through Matt Grimes’ penalty and a superb strike from former City player Bersant Celina.City piled on the pressure in the second half and Bernardo Silva halved the deficit after 69 minutes.

LIVE on talkSPORT

There are two live commentaries remaining across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and when you can hear them, below...

• Millwall vs Brighton (Sunday) talkSPORT 2
• Fulham vs Liverpool (Sunday) talkSPORT

Aguero’s penalty hit a post and rebounded off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt for an unfortunate own goal.“I don’t want anything to take away from the quality of our performance,” manager Potter said after the game was marred late on by a supporter running on to the pitch from a stand housing home fans and jostling City substitute Oleksandr Zinchenko.“We showed great courage, great quality and effort and from our perspective I thought our players were incredible.“But it does not make it any easier when Aguero and Sterling come on, it makes it more difficult and in the end we couldn’t hold out.“The performance was one to be very proud of.”2

Aguero appeared to be offside when he headed City’s winner into the back of the net

Guardiola said: “You have to say congratulations to Swansea, it was incredible.“But we didn’t give up. We adjusted things and the quality of our players made the difference.”On the pitch invasion, Guardiola added: “It’s happened a few times lately and it’s a worry because in the future we could have problems“It’s not nice but thankfully nothing happened this time.”

---

Dietmar Hamann believes Manchester United are still 'lagging behind' Manchester City and Liverpool, despite their upturn in form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 'Baby-Faced Assassin' has overseen a run of just one defeat from 17 games since taking over from Jose Mourinho in December.
Man Utd can overtake Chelsea and Arsenal for Premier League

---

Relish final day drama of Liverpool and Manchester City… but don't forget Edin Dzeko The Premier League title race will come down to the final day for the seventh time in 27 years - and
Premier League: Manchester City beat Liverpool to title - BBC

---

Marouane Fellaini has taken to life in the Chinese Super League like a fish to water as the former Manchester United midfielder scored the winner for Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C on his debut.
Marouane Fellaini marks Chinese Super League debut with

---

Charlton goalkeeper Dillon Phillips has had one of those moments where he'll wish the ground opened up and swallowed him whole after his awful mistake in the League One play-off final. The Addicks' opponents, Sunderland, took the lead on five minutes at Wembley in the most shocking of circumstances as Phillips completely misjudged Naby Sarr
Charlton vs Sunderland: Addicks go behind in League One play

---

Sam Allardyce has slammed his Everton players' lack of professionalism with man of the match Heung-min Son opening the scoring Tottenham should play Harry Kane for final 30 minutes and use
Watford 1-1 Tottenham LIVE plus the rest of Premier League

---

Dean Saunders has suggested on talkSPORT that Tammy Abraham should swap Chelsea for Aston Villa this summer. Abraham joined Aston Villa on loan last summer and played a massive role in their
'Bigger than Chelsea' Aston Villa hero makes this huge claim

---

Man Utd 1-0 Young Boys: Jose Mourinho SLAMS bottles after Marouane Fellaini winner MANCHESTER UNITED star Marouane Fellaini struck a stoppage-time winner as Jose Mourinho's side secured
The English press assess Mourinho's intense celebrations

---

Arsenal's German international midfielder Mesut Ozil on Wednesday visited a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, kicking a ball around with the children, signing autographs and handing out football shirts.
Arsene Wenger: Fit-again Mesut Ozil one of best players in

---

N'Golo Kante is very close to committing his future to Chelsea and signing a new long-term contract. Kante has agreed a deal which is thought to be worth up to £290,000 a week over the next
N'Golo Kante Signs New 5-Year Contract At Chelsea - KubiLive

---

Manchester United news: Paul Pogba will not stay and Zinedine Zidane is the best man to manage him, says Mido News May 24, 2019 The Egyptian star, who was represented by the super-agent for a decade of his playing career, says Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is the best man to manage the French midfielder and believes he will soon be heading
Manchester United news Paul Pogba will not stay and Zinedine

---

Transfer news LIVE - Thursday, January 10 - Gonzalo Higuain has accepted a move to Chelsea, according to Spanish newspaper Marca - Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Yannick Carrasco with the Dalian Yifang star keen to work with Unai Emery - Manchester United continue to scout Porto star Eder Militao ahead of a potential move. Related

---

Boca-River Libertadores Final Postponed Again After Attack The Copa Libertadores final between fierce Argentine rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate was postponed Sunday in a major embarrassment
Boca-River Libertadores Final Postponed Again after Attack

---

Manchester United news: Paul Pogba taking inspiration from Frank Lampard and is enjoying football under Solskjaer after Mourinho era. caretaker manager at Manchester United than Paul Pogba
Manchester United star Paul Pogba opens up on becoming a

---

Crystal Palace. HOME KIT. unveiled the new home kit but the Cottagers have turned to their promotion winning stars from 2001 to help launch their new away strip. Kit Symons, Luis Boa Morte and
Headline News, 20 Aug 2018 | 15 Minute News - Know the News

---

600 UP Messi was at his brilliant best during Barcelona's 3-0 triumph over Liverpool on Wednesday night but his brace also brought up goal No.600 for the Spanish giants Lionel Messi could well be the greatest footballer of all time and with good reason too.
Looking back at the superstar's best Barcelona goals as
fussboll.com/2019/05/02/looking-back-at-the-superstars-best-barcelona-goals-as-argentine-reaches-amazing-600-goal-milestone/
600 UP Messi was at his brilliant best during Barcelona's […] Looking back at the superstar's best Barcelona goals as Argentine reaches amazing 600 goal milestone - Fussboll Home
Fan launches petition to get Lionel Messi banned for
fussboll.com/2019/05/02/fan-launches-petition-to-get-lionel-messi-banned-for-punching-fabinho/
A petition has been launched to get Lionel Messi retrospectively banned for 'punching Fabinho in the head' during Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Barcelona. The Argentine illuminated the first leg of the Champions League semi-final with a brace, featuring a magical free-kick to leave the Reds needing an Anfield miracle next week.
Lionel Messi scores his 400th la Liga goal | Mbare Times

---