Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has insisted that the ongoing debate surrounding the VAR decision that awarded Erling Haaland’s winning goal against Manchester United should not detract from his side`s resilient 10-man performance in their 1-0 derby victory.
City prepare to face Norwich City in the League Cup third round on Thursday.
Haaland’s second-half strike on Sunday was initially ruled out for offside before being overturned by a VAR review that deemed the Norwegian onside. Refereeing body Pro Ref subsequently acknowledged that VAR had erred in allowing the decisive goal to stand. City had been reduced to 10 men as early as the 23rd minute when Phil Foden received a red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the cup fixture, Maresca expressed pride in his squad`s resilience.
He stated that focusing heavily on a single incident after playing for more than 70 minutes a man down was disappointing, emphasizing that the team`s overall display was unbelievable. Acknowledging that mistakes happen, Maresca noted that refereeing decisions sometimes favor a team and sometimes work against them.
The City boss also recalled a controversial 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in January 2023, pointing out that City is still awaiting an apology for a goal awarded despite Marcus Rashford being in an offside position—an incident that occurred when Maresca served as an assistant coach at the club.
Defending the officials in the video review room, Maresca explained that making split-second decisions within 10 to 20 seconds under intense pressure is inherently difficult. He concluded that mistakes from officials are an inevitable part of the sport, much like errors made by players and managers alike.
