Man City news: Enzo Maresca critical of VAR focus after “unbelievable” derby win over Man United

By Oliver Thomas | 16 Sep 2026 11:52, Last updated: 16 Sep 2026 11:57

Enzo Maresca believes that Manchester City’s “unbelievable” derby triumph implicit rivals Manchester United should not beryllium overshadowed by the VAR contention around Erling Haaland's winning goal.

The Citizens played for implicit an hr with 10 men pursuing Phil Foden’s first-half reddish card, but they came distant from Old Trafford with a constrictive 1-0 triumph after Haaland’s 60th-minute onslaught was allowed to stand.

Referee governing assemblage Pro Ref, formerly PGMOL, person since apologised to Man United aft confirming an “error of judgment” from VAR, who failed to place that Enzo Fernandez had interfered with play portion successful an offside presumption earlier Haaland made the nett ripple.

The latest howler from VAR has since dominated the headlines, and Maresca feels that Man City’s hard-fought show and triumph successful the Manchester derby has been mislaid amid the absorption connected the officials.

Speaking astatine a property league up of Man City’s EFL Cup clash with Norwich City connected Thursday, Maresca said: "I'm pleased with the unbelievable show of the players successful Sunday's game. I'm precise pleased with that.

"To speech astir 1 infinitesimal aft that crippled erstwhile we played for 70-75 minutes with 10 players is rather poor. I deliberation the show was unbelievable and I'm pleased."

Maresca: Focus connected "unbelievable" Man City performance, not VAR error

Maresca was portion of Pep Guardiola’s backroom unit astatine Man City erstwhile Man United benefitted from a akin arguable derby incidental involving Marcus Rashford for a extremity scored by Bruno Fernandes successful January 2023.

“There is cognition that determination was a mistake and that's all. I deliberation sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you,” said Maresca.

“Three years agone erstwhile I was here, it happened precisely the aforesaid against Man United. We mislaid the derby there, the extremity was not a regular goal, and nary 1 apologised.

"We're inactive waiting for the apology for that goal. It's football."

Maresca: VAR volition proceed to marque mistakes

Erling Haaland has enactment Manchester City up successful the derby aft a VAR cheque ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/V0DCwryhFy

Maresca has besides acknowledged that helium has sympathy for officials moving nether unit and has stated that they, similar everyone other successful football, volition marque mistakes.

"It's not casual for the VAR, for the radical successful beforehand of the screen, and successful 10 seconds, 20 seconds they person to marque a decision," helium added.

"It's not easy. Sometimes they marque immoderate mistake. I marque mistakes. Players marque mistakes. It's portion of our job. It's analyzable besides for them."

Pro Ref person since confirmed that VAR authoritative Matt Donohue and adjunct VAR Blake Antrobus person not been appointed for immoderate Premier League fixtures this weekend.

However, on-field referee Michael Oliver, his adjunct referees Stuart Burt and Tim Wood, and 4th authoritative Paul Tierney person each retained their positions for gameweek five.

Meanwhile, Maresca has besides shared caller thoughts connected Foden’s reddish card, the interaction of his lack for 3 matches and whether Man City mean to situation his suspension.