A Classic Ruined by VAR

In what could be argued to be one of the best games for many years, we end up talking about referees and VAR. Is this was what makes football great?

Let’s start with this. The first 11 mins. 4 goals. Just incredible! I mean insane, and almost comical. And yet just amazing. City started with an intensity which was just on another level and it paid off immediately. Sterling proving to be one of the best in world football once again with his goal and performance. Straight away you’re thinking this is going to be very good. When Son scores, and then again, it’s now something very special. What would we behold for the next 85+ mins? 

Out of nowhere the tie was effectively over. While Son’s first was somewhat fortuitous his second was sublime. We will talk about him later. It was like basketball, you shoot and score, then we’ll go down the other end and do the same. 4 goals in 11 mins?! In a Champions League quarter final? It’s not supposed to be like this! These games are supposed to be tight affairs, cagey, teams and coaches seeking to control and probe, not just throw caution to the wind like this. 

City had to in some way of course, the missed penalty would have changed the whole narrative. And yet this was somewhat poetic justice for a VAR decision which took everyone by surprise. No-one argued for the penalty. Yet the penalty was given. We will talk about VAR later. For the majority of the game they were in control of the tie before Son, in Kane's absence, popped up once again. Then the pressure of this 2nd leg was very much on; there was the focus on Guardiola’s record in Europe in recent years, the inability to win away ties, the issue of the fans at the Etihad; ticket sales and atmosphere, their anti-Champions League mentality. Then there was the ominous potential quadruple which added increased pressure on this team. The weight of expectation was immense. 

At 2-1 down it looked as though that pressure had told and they had capitulated again, like against Monaco and during his time at Bayern the Madrid capitulation. It’s hard to keep clean sheets against top quality sides, but there is certainly an issue with Guardiola’s teams in these situations. Mainly in transitions and being caught on the counter attack. Laporte makes a surprising error in possession and then all of a sudden it's a goal. Ederson who always seems solid and reliable looked easy to beat. It was just incredible. 

2-2 after 11 minutes. 3-2 up after 21. Back and forth the tie went. I’ve not witnessed anything like that in that short a time. The drama of it. Emotions going up and down. (Can I just mention the true greatness of the De Bruyne boxpass for Sterling’s second goal, just amazing. This guys passing ability!) 

And then a lull. If you can call it that. That incredible intensity eventually subsided and the game became (a little) less crazy. 58 minutes and Aguero scores after more great work from De Bruyne, he was really immense in this game. And so with 30 mins left to play City are going through. Then Llorente scores. And this is where the game turned. Yes it was still dramatic. But this is when VAR appeared and changed the game. 

All on eyes on VAR 

VAR ruined this game. There I said it. It took away the emotion of the game. To deny City the winning goal in the 92 minute was quite simply one of the worst moments in high level football I’ve witnessed. Yes Aguero was offside. I’m not disputing that. But the linesman didn’t give it , he hadn’t caught it. The goal went in and the Eithad erupted. It was the perfect ending to this game. A Sterling hat trick. The winning goal. Wow! It was like QPR in 2012 all over again. 

And then it was taken away. Overruled. Reversed. Free kick. Offide. No goal. Are you kidding me? 

Spurs would go through. They would celebrate. That (correct) decision would rightfully allow Spurs to progress and win on away goals. Spurs who seconds before were crestfallen were now jubilant  But is this how you want to win and progress? Perhaps it is. But the beauty of the game is not to win and failure due to video replay. Surely? Look I support Aston Villa. There's no bitterness here. I think Guardiola and City are great and what Pochettino has done at Spurs has been incredible. I’m not biased by the outcome. What I am disappointed in is the manner of the outcome. 

This was a one of those games to be watched again and again, it was almost a perfect game of fallibility, excellence and drama. The crazy start and then ending with Sterling’s winning goal. It was the perfect end to the game. And VAR ruined it. The great climax of the match, the pinnacle of a spectacle, it doesn't get better than that. And it was reversed by VAR! 

Look, if the linesman flags it off and they celebrate yet the ref sees the flag up, that happens. But it’s this element of ‘no mistakes allowed’, checking every goal to see if there was an error which was missed to check it's a perfect goal. That's not what makes football such a fascinating game. Which is why I can’t agree or get on board with VAR. 

What I love about football is that it contains mistakes. Players make errors, this is often how goals are scored. Errors are part of the game. And referees make errors too, mis-judgements and wrong decisions. Just like players, and the coaches, refs are human and prone to a mistake. That makes the game what we love. Yes we may moan about refs etc but there’s a joy in it because it feels real. We moan about refs like players or managers who make bad decisions, “what was he doing?” “What did he see there?”. I just don’t think we needed to be at the stage where moments like last night are being determined by video replay. 

Not that it doesn’t provide clarity and ‘truth’ but because it takes away the beauty of what makes football so great, the emotion, passion and denying of these special ‘moments’. Ok, so you argue that VAR got it right and goal was overturned rightly. Well what about Llorente’s goal then? If Danny Rose gave away a penalty in the 1st leg then surely video replay clearly showed it hitting Llorenre's arm? That’s definite, no arguments. So if the rule is that if a ball strikes the arm/hand then it’s ruled a foul then how can that be given? 

For me I wouldn't have given the penalty against Rose, or Kimpenke for that matter. At the Etihad I accept Llorente and Spurs benefit from a missed handball and the drama continues. And likewise the linesman misses Aguero’s offside and City win it at the end. That for me is an acceptable part of the game, two human marginal errors which were missed and goals resulted. What we get is a great game, theatre and ending. We talk more about the game and the football than VAR. 

VAR spoiled the game last night. Goal line technology I can accept and I think that works. VAR has issues. It’s not 100% clear. It is still down to interpretation in many cases. And it’s opening up issues like last night which is ruining the enjoyment of the game. There is my VAR rant. Done.

City’s quest for European glory doomed?

I heard commentators before the game talking about how City weren’t ready to win the Champions League, that as a club they were still novices in the competition, that they lacked pedigree and history. That it wasn’t their time yet. Well I don't agree. That's an excuse  I know they have a relatively young team but if this team is not ready then I’d love to see who is. Look, they are ready. But the question is are they capable?

After last night questions are being asked of their coach, if he is up to the task. That seems a little ridiculous considering what he’s done this past decade, winning the trophy twice and reaching the semi-final each year with Bayern. Not to mention his domestic success with leagues and cups. He's great. But, there has been an element of disappointment both at Bayern and certainly at City that this team has a game in them where they make serious errors, capitulate and ultimately crash out.

Last night it felt the tie was over after 10 minutes as they conceded the first two shots on target from Spurs. It feels that as the pressure grows, the mistakes increase. That is understandable. But I wonder if Guardiola over-stresses and this comes in to the players psyche. Too much overload of tactics, too much tinkering and over-thinking?

This City team is still maturing. You see some of these players and just salivate at the quality this squad possesses. The season Sterling and Bernardo Silva are having, the quality of Laporte, and when fit the excellence of De Bruyne. Question is, what will get City over the line though? 

Is the style of play too open and susceptible to allowing good chances? Yet the more cautious 1^stleg approaches don’t seem to bring any more success. Perhaps this 1^stleg caution is an issue in itself? Leaving an uphill struggle at home and making them worry about not conceding an away goal, which in turn leads to the conceding of an away goal. A more gung-ho approach away the answer? Or more caution at home?

There’s no doubt what we’ve seen from City last season and this one has been something never seen in the league before. The football, the quality, the dominance and the goals have been amazing. What Guardiola has done, albeit with a well put together expensive team, yet nevertheless the cohesion he's built and the coaching of the team is just a joy. 

Importantly what City and Guardiola have done is raise standards. As is Guardiola’s MO he gets huge points totals and almost asks of his rivals to see if they can compete and match them. And Liverpool have answered that challenge. They’ve been fantastic all season, well since January 2018 in truth. The additions of Van Dijk (wow what a talent) and Robertson (has emerged as the best left wing back in Europe) added what was needed. Allison has brought even more quality for the team. It is an excellently put together squad which such an array of attacking talent. Liverpool have had to be great in order to stay with City. And in so doing City have made Liverpool better. Like Messi and Ronaldo they motivate each other to continue to be their best, to score goals and win more trophies. Liverpool now have a chance for a great double. A trophy is certainly needed to solidify their standing in history as a truly great side. 

How high can Spurs go?

Speaking of the need for trophies lets discuss Spurs. For me they’ve had the chances to win the league and cups in recent years and yet have been left wanting when it truly mattered. Chokers may be harsh but they should've done better. They just appear to lack that final killer instinct to take them to 1^stplace. People use the excuse of transfer spending (or lack thereof – Spurs haven’t signed a player in the past two windows) as a reason why they can’t compete with the best teams who spend significantly more. It’s true and this argument is valid, to an extent. The squad last night showed its limitations and the injuries which made them weaker. The difference in quality in benches between the teams was evident. But Harry Winks shouldn’t be seen as a liability but a quality midfielder they’ve produced. It’s not always about how big the fee or wage. And Spurs have built that type of squad; a group together, playing and working for each other. 

Spurs (Levy) have decided to use a stringent approach to transfers, and for some people this is an issue for them. But have they not picked up some real gems for good money in recent years with this approach? It’s a lesson that you don’t have to spend huge and every player to build a quality team. And yet they are big players in the game now, still acting like a mid-range club. You can’t have it both ways. You have a maanger who is desperate to win things and take the club forward. Now with the stadium this could be the chance. But I don’t think Spurs need to be the big spending types in order to win something. I think they are giving themselves an excuse. 

This is a team which has a lot of quality; players like Eriksen, Alli and Kane who were bought or produced for very little whose market value is now immense. Son has proven to be one of the most versatile players in Europe and who when Kane is absent steps up and shows how good he is. Whisper it but I’d let Kane leave, bank the money from Madrid, use some for the stadium and the rest to build a stronger squad. Kane’s injuries seem chronic and his value may never be higher. He’s great but I think Spurs can survive and excel without him. And Son can make the step up and produce. 

Spurs issue is mentality. They now have a chance to reach the Champions League final. It feels like it could be Ajax’s year but this is where Spurs have to believe in how good they are. 

Last nights game was a classic. However it was ultimately ruined by VAR. The result ‘exposed’ Guardiola and gave people a chance to critique the best coach of the last decade.  Guardiola will now have to wait till 2020 to have a chance to reach another Champions League final, I must say 2011 seems a long time ago right now. There’s no denying his brilliance as a coach, but questions are right to be asked about what he does in Europe. 

And it kept Spurs in with a chance to win a trophy (the big one at that). Yes Pochettino has done excellently with this club, he has got them almost to a level of competing with the best. His challenge now is to get this team, club and fans to believe they are good enough to actually win something and not just happy to come runners up and use excuses. 

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address