Following Rodri’s expressions of dissatisfaction, Pep Guardiola dismissively responded to questions regarding the officiating during Manchester City’s match against Chelsea.
City exhibited visible frustration throughout the game as several decisions seemed to go against them, with the hosts not being awarded any penalties despite multiple VAR checks.
“I don’t want to focus on the referee, but I can’t recall a match with so many VAR reviews and none in our favor, come on, man,” lamented Rodri after the game.
When asked about these comments post-match, Guardiola sought clarification on specific incidents. “Which ones? I’m not entirely sure,” he replied.
“If you can pinpoint the exact decisions, then I can share my thoughts. But I’m not sure what you’re referring to. We need to perform better in the first half.”
In a light-hearted manner, Guardiola responded to queries about the late penalty appeal involving Ruben Dias and Levi Colwill’s handball, saying, “Which one?” and added, “Which incident occurred within the Chelsea box? I must have missed it.”
Despite Rodri’s frustrations with the decisions, he echoed his manager’s sentiments about the need for improvement.
The midfielder emphasized the importance of individual accountability and defensive solidity.
“It was within our control, and we must execute better in individual moments; we can’t afford to let the game slip away like that,” he asserted.
“If we’re to challenge for the title, we need to take responsibility collectively; I’m not pointing fingers.
“We felt we had momentum and opportunities to secure victory, but sometimes luck isn’t on our side. It can be frustrating.”
While Rodri refrained from directly criticizing the referee, he acknowledged the abundance of VAR reviews and the lack of favorable outcomes for his team.
“It’s time to move on, but you can always sense the frustration,” he concluded.
