{"id":20818,"date":"2026-01-18T11:54:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T11:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/18\/pep-guardiola-responds-to-var-controversy-explains-man-uniteds-simple-reason-for-defeat\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T11:54:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T11:54:30","slug":"pep-guardiola-responds-to-var-controversy-explains-man-uniteds-simple-reason-for-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/18\/pep-guardiola-responds-to-var-controversy-explains-man-uniteds-simple-reason-for-defeat\/","title":{"rendered":"Pep Guardiola responds to VAR controversy, explains Man United’s simple reason for defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Diogo Dalot’s challenge on Jeremy Doku made headlines as Manchester United beat local rivals City 2-0 in their first game under new manager Michael Carrick.<\/h2>\n
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Pep Guardiola had no doubts (Image: James Gill – Danehouse\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
A somber manager Pep Guardiola was forced to admit Manchester United deserved to win Saturday’s derby and refused to blame VAR for City’s loss. United ran out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford as the hosts got Michael Carrick’s reign off to a good start.<\/p>\n
Guardiola’s team has not been able to display overwhelming power and is currently without a win in four games in the Premier League. Brian Mbeumo and Patrick Dorg made the difference in the second half, but the margin of victory could have been even greater.<\/p>\n
The game might have been different if the referee had made an earlier decision. Diogo Dalot was shown a yellow card by Anthony Taylor early on for a foul on Jeremy Doku, with replays showing the stud made high contact with the City winger’s legs.<\/p>\n
However, VAR ruled that the contact was a “glance” and there was no “excessive force”. The United right-back was allowed to continue playing and was instrumental in the Red Devils’ impressive victory.<\/p>\n
Guardiola felt the result was justified, confessing to Sky Sports after the game: “The better team won. They were the better team. When a team is better, you have to accept that. They had an energy that we didn’t have. Congratulations.”<\/p>\n
read more: Josep Guardiola responds to Phil Foden’s ‘broken bone’ claim after Man City’s nightmare defeat<\/span><\/span>read more: Manchester United vs Man City player rating: Casemiro gets 9, 5 others get 8\/10<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
“They had a chance at the end, but of course we conceded a poor goal. We were out of control, but in general you can’t talk about this or that act. We have a duty to analyze the whole game, but they were better.”<\/p>\n
Regarding the decision not to send off Dalot, Guardiola said: “You could say that, and you could also say that if there was a red card it would be a different game. There are so many situations that can happen.<\/p>\n
“It’s easy to come here and say there should be a red card. It doesn’t matter. If it’s a discussion of winning or losing games, we won’t improve. We have to do better and we didn’t do that today.”<\/p>\n
Should Diogo Dalot have been sent off? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.<\/p>\n
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Diogo Dalot avoids sending off (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
City midfielder Bernardo Silva echoed his manager’s comments about a possible red card, saying: “I don’t think there are any excuses for us after a day like today. It was a really bad performance from us. The challenge was visible but it is what it is.”<\/p>\n
“This season, the 50-50 decisions are all against us. Everything is in favor of our rivals. In the end, this was not the reason. If you look at the video, it’s a red card.”<\/p>\n
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