Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has acknowledged the VAR error surrounding Erling Haaland’s controversial winning goal against Manchester United, but said the incident should not overshadow his side’s overall performance.

Manchester City defeated United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 13, with Haaland’s goal becoming the centre of controversy after VAR officials failed to overturn the decision following a review.

Maresca addressed the incident during a press conference on Wednesday ahead of City’s Carabao Cup clash with Norwich on Thursday, while also looking ahead to squad rotation and the demanding schedule that follows.

Key Takeaways

• Enzo Maresca described the VAR error surrounding Haaland’s goal as “part of football.”
• Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford.
• Maresca said focusing solely on the controversial incident would overlook City’s overall performance.
• The manager referenced a previous controversial decision involving Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford in January 2023.
• City are expected to rotate their squad against Norwich in the Carabao Cup.
• Maresca said the fixture will provide some players with an opportunity to improve their fitness and build form.

Maresca Responds To Haaland’s Controversial Goal

The main talking point from Manchester City’s derby victory has been the VAR decision surrounding Haaland’s winning goal.

Although the incident remained controversial, Maresca said he did not want the discussion to become the defining issue from the match.

“To focus on that one episode after the performance we produced is quite poor,” the City manager said.

He then directly addressed the VAR controversy, describing the error as part of the game.

“The VAR error is part of football,” Maresca added.

What Happened With The VAR Decision?

Manchester City secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Haaland’s goal proved decisive, but the decision became controversial after VAR officials reviewed the incident without overturning the original decision.

That controversy subsequently became a major part of the discussion surrounding the derby.

Maresca, however, argued that concentrating on that single episode would take attention away from what he considered the broader performance produced by his team.

Why Maresca Does Not Want The VAR Issue To Dominate

Maresca’s comments suggest that his focus remains on the result and the performance rather than allowing the officiating controversy to dominate Manchester City’s post-match discussion.

The manager pointed to the three points secured at Old Trafford and said he would rather concentrate on what City achieved during the derby.

His position was that the VAR incident should be viewed within the wider context of the match rather than treated as the only significant talking point.

Maresca Revisits The 2023 Old Trafford Incident

The Manchester City manager also brought up a previous controversial decision involving the club at Old Trafford.

Maresca referred to Marcus Rashford’s goal during Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over City in January 2023.

According to Maresca, City were still waiting for an apology over that incident.

The reference added historical context to his comments about the latest VAR controversy, linking Sunday’s decision to an earlier disputed moment involving the two Manchester clubs.

City’s Focus Now Turns To Norwich

With the derby now behind them, Manchester City will turn their attention to Thursday’s Carabao Cup fixture against Norwich.

Maresca confirmed that City will rotate their squad for the match.

The manager said the game would give some players an opportunity to improve their fitness and build form.

That approach comes ahead of a demanding period involving both Premier League and Champions League matches, making squad management an important part of City’s upcoming schedule.

What Readers Should Take From Maresca’s Comments

Maresca’s response contains two clear elements.

First, he acknowledged the VAR error surrounding Haaland’s goal and described it as “part of football.”

Second, he argued that the controversy should not overshadow Manchester City’s overall performance and the three points earned at Old Trafford.

His comments also showed that the latest incident was being viewed against the backdrop of City’s previous experience with controversial decisions at the same stadium.

FAQ

What did Maresca say about the VAR error?

Maresca described the VAR error surrounding Haaland’s controversial winning goal as “part of football.”

What was the result of Manchester City vs Manchester United?

Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 13.

Why was Haaland’s goal controversial?

Haaland’s winning goal became controversial after VAR officials reviewed the decision but did not overturn it.

What previous Old Trafford incident did Maresca mention?

Maresca referred to Marcus Rashford’s goal in Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over City in January 2023, saying the club was still waiting for an apology over the decision.

Will Manchester City rotate against Norwich?

Yes. Maresca confirmed that City will rotate their squad for Thursday’s Carabao Cup match against Norwich.

Why will City rotate their squad?

Maresca said the fixture would give some players an opportunity to improve their fitness and build form ahead of a demanding period of Premier League and Champions League matches.

Reader Question

Do you think the VAR controversy should remain a major talking point after Manchester City’s 1-0 derby victory, or should attention now shift to the team’s overall performance and upcoming fixtures?

What Comes Next For Manchester City?

The immediate focus now shifts from the Old Trafford controversy to City’s Carabao Cup meeting with Norwich.

With Maresca confirming squad rotation and a demanding run of Premier League and Champions League fixtures ahead, Thursday’s match will provide opportunities for other players to gain fitness and build form.

For now, the VAR controversy remains part of the discussion surrounding City’s derby victory, but Maresca has made clear that he wants the team’s performance and the three points to remain central to the conversation.