PEP GUARDIOLA said VAR had dealt his Manchester City side a “cruel” blow as their hopes of landing a quadruple crashed at the Etihad last night.
Victory for Tottenham, 4-4 on away goals, saw two decisions go against the hosts late on delivering a controversial end to their Champions League hopes.
First Fernando Llorente scored a second-half goal despite appearing to divert the ball in off his elbow.
Then, Raheem Sterling, had a late ‘winner’ ruled out after Sergio Aguero was deemed offside in the build-up.
Referee Cuneyt Cakir ruled both decisions in favor of Spurs but Guardiola suggested the visitors’ winner should have been ruled out.
It is just to see the goal may be from Llorente’s handball,” he said. “From one angle it is a handball. It is tough but it would be better if we don’t concede. We were close to going through. It is cruel.
“Second half we did everything,” he said. “It was not easy to create chance s but we create a lot. We make mistakes in that competition but were punished a lot. It was a bad end for us.
Guardiola insisted he continued to support the use of VAR despite its late intervention.
And he maintained City it did not cost City a place in the semi-final.
“After 20 minutes we were 3-2 up. We missed a penalty in the first leg. We create an incredible amount of chances today. I am so proud, especially for the fans. It was an amazing night for us. I never saw the stadium like tonight since I was here in Manchester. I know they know we gave absolutely everything.
“Football is like this, it is unpredictable.”
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino called the finish to the match “unbelievable”.
“I am so happy, so proud. My players are heroes to be here. I am so happy for them, so happy for the fans.
“In a moment many things happened in your head, the disappointment was massive but they changed the decision. That is why we love football.
“We showed great character and great personality it was an unbelievable game.”
Christian Eriksen’s mistake, which led to Sterling’s subsequently disallowed goal in the 93rd minute as the match wound up to a dramatic conclusion, called himself the “luckiest man on the planet”.
“I must be one of the luckiest guys on the planet. I thought it was all over but It was a fun game. It was a rollercoaster, we gave them a lot but also got a lot it was a weird game.
“After today we take a deep breath, it will be a fairytale to play Ajax.”
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