Enzo Maresca defends VAR officials after Man City benefit from derby error

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]Erling Haaland[/a] scored a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/manchester-utd-ppjDR086/?mid=0YOA44w3"]controversial winner in the 60th minute at Old Trafford on Sunday[/a] to make it four wins out of four for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a] in the Premier League.[/p][p]Haaland was initially flagged offside, but VAR ruled he was being played onside by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]United[/a] defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dorgu-patrick/Sf4eaXAH/"]Patrick Dorgu[/a], neglecting to take into account the position of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Enzo Fernandez[/a], who was clearly offside and was interfering with play.[/p][p][b]Refereeing body Pro Ref acknowledged an "error of judgment", saying that the video assistant referee should have recommended an on-field review.[/b][/p][p]But Maresca spoke up for the officials ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/norwich-Qo6off6p/?mid=0xXvydIM"]Thursday's EFL Cup third round match against Championship side Norwich[/a].[/p][p][b]"Sometimes they go for you, the decisions, sometimes they go against you," [/b]he said. [b]"But also it's not easy, I think, for the VAR, for the people that are in front of the screen, and in 10 seconds, 20 seconds they have to make a decision.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's not easy for them. Sometimes they make some mistakes. I make mistakes, players make mistakes, I think it's part of our job."[/b][/p][embed guid="1f1956b5-fc51-466a-a87b-f0abfc5ce840" url="https://x.com/premierleague/status/2099241712652574861/video/1" social-type="twitter" /][p]Maresca said he was unhappy with the intense focus on the offside goal following an impressive win for his team, who were reduced to 10 men when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/foden-phil/E7XjDJns/"]Phil Foden[/a] was sent off in the first half.[/p][p]The Italian, who replaced Pep Guardiola as manager in June, reminded reporters of a controversial incident when he was Guardiola's assistant in the 2022/23 season.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandes-bruno/GYvAMDm2/"]Bruno Fernandes[/a]'s goal was given despite the presence of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rashford-marcus/COnT2Lh0/"]Marcus Rashford[/a] in an offside position in a 2-1 win for United at Old Trafford.[/p][p]Maresca said he was still waiting for officials to say sorry.[/p][p][b]"Three years ago, when I was here, it happened exactly the same against Man Utd,"[/b] said the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] boss.[/p][p][b]"We lost the derby there. The goal was not a regular goal, if you remember. To be honest, no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that goal.[/b][/p][p][b]"Sometimes it happens for you, sometimes it happens against you. It's football."[/b][/p][embed guid="33fb2f65-1711-4e8c-8949-c575e3d09d01" url="https://x.com/HaytersTV/status/2100166185929077003/video/1" social-type="twitter" /][p]Maresca brushed aside a question on whether he was pleased there would be no VAR in place in the early rounds of the EFL Cup, bringing the focus back to Sunday's win.[/p][p][b]"I'm pleased with the unbelievable performance from the players on Sunday," [/b]he said.[b] "I'm very pleased with that. Talking about one moment after that game, when we played for 70-75 minutes with 10 players, I think it's quite poor. I think the performance was unbelievable."[/b][/p]