Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his frustration with the VAR system, saying it feels like “a coin toss” and that his team has suffered from incorrect refereeing decisions. In an interview with the BBC, the Spanish coach pointed to the 2024 and 2025 FA Cup finals, both of which City lost, as examples where officials failed to do their job properly.
“We lost two FA Cup finals because the referees didn’t do what they were supposed to do, and neither did VAR. When that happens, it means we have to play better, not blame the officials or the system. I’ve never relied on anything since I came here many years ago. I’ve always learned that you have to do everything better and put yourself in the best position, because if you blame yourself for what you should have done, then VAR is a coin toss,” Guardiola said.
The Catalan manager, known for his tactical brilliance, stressed that his philosophy remains focused on self-improvement rather than external factors. “I don’t complain about referees or VAR. I only look at what we could have done better,” he added.
Manchester City currently sit second in the Premier League table with 74 points from 35 matches, trailing league leaders Arsenal. Guardiola’s side will need to maintain their form in the remaining games to keep the title race alive.
