Maresca Defends City After VAR Controversy in Manchester Derby

Enzo Maresca did not bother hiding his irritation. A derby won with 10 men, a fourth straight league victory, a statement performance at Old Trafford – and all anyone wanted to talk about was a frozen frame on a VAR monitor.

“It’s quite poor,” the Manchester City manager said, the words carrying more bite than bluster.

A derby reduced to a screenshot

Erling Haaland’s decisive strike on the hour settled a tight, snarling Manchester derby, City grinding out a 1-0 win after Phil Foden’s first-half red card left them a man down for the best part of 70–75 minutes.

On the pitch, the assistant’s flag initially cut short City’s celebrations, Haaland ruled offside. In Stockley Park, the lines went up, angles were checked, and VAR overturned the decision, judging the Norwegian just onside. Goal given. City in front. Old Trafford stunned.

Then came the rewind.

The Premier League’s refereeing body later accepted the decision was wrong. Officials had failed to penalise Enzo Fernandez, who had dived at the ball from a central position and was deemed to have interfered with opponents from an offside position in the buildup.

The admission turned a hard-fought away win into another flashpoint in the endless VAR debate. For Maresca, it turned attention away from what he felt really mattered.

“Talking about one episode or one moment after that game when we played for 70–75 minutes with 10 players, I think it’s quite poor,” he said ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Norwich City. “I think the performance was unbelievable, and I’m pleased with the performance.”

Maresca’s message: remember the football

Maresca’s stance was clear. Mistakes happen. They always have. But to let one officiating error drown out the narrative of a derby in which his side dug in, adapted and still found a way to win clearly grated.

“There is knowledge that there was a mistake and that’s all. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you. It’s football,” the Italian said.

City, down to 10 after Foden’s dismissal, controlled long spells without the ball, absorbed pressure, then struck when it mattered. Haaland, as so often, provided the cold finish. For Maresca, that resilience – and not the VAR freeze-frame – should define the afternoon.

Old grievances resurface

This is not a manager speaking from a position of permanent favour. Maresca was quick to remind everyone that City have been on the wrong side of similar calls before, particularly in this fixture.

“Three years ago when I was here [as Guardiola’s assistant], it happened the exact same against United,” he said. “The goal was not a regular goal and no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that.”

The reference was pointed. In his view, City swallowed a bad decision back then without the same public contrition or noise. Now, with an error acknowledged in their favour, the storm has landed squarely on them.

Webb’s admission

The referees’ body, under scrutiny yet again, moved quickly. Howard Webb, head of the Premier League’s officials, went on ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’ to explain what went wrong.

He confirmed VAR had not properly assessed whether Fernandez was offside before Haaland converted.

“I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are,” Webb said. “None more so than the officials themselves. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they’re obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation.”

It was a rare, public mea culpa. It did little, though, to change the league table, the result, or Maresca’s conviction that the story of the derby is being told from the wrong angle.

Focus turns to what comes next

Maresca, who stepped into one of the most demanding jobs in world football when he replaced Pep Guardiola in the summer, has already shown he will defend his team’s work as fiercely as any manager before him.

City have their fourth league win in a row, a derby victory at Old Trafford and a manager determined to keep the spotlight on performance rather than controversy.

The question now is not whether the goal should have stood. That debate will fade. The real test is whether anyone will remember how City played with 10 men – or only the replay that lit up the weekend.