Carabao Cup
Guardiola details five VAR grievances after Semenyo goal is ruled out
Guardiola warned VAR errors have accumulated across five incidents, from FA Cup final, Newcastle tie.
Pep Guardiola used the aftermath of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semifinal victory over Newcastle United to air a long-standing grievance with VAR decisions that, in his view, have accumulated across several matches. Rayan Cherki would belatedly establish a 2–0 lead for the visitors to take into the second leg of the tie at the Etihad Stadium next month, giving Guardiola the platform to set out his complaints.
City’s manager returned repeatedly to the same themes during a six-minute critique of refereeing and VAR. He defended his players and stressed resilience: “We know how it works and that will make us stronger,” he told Sky Sports. “I’ve said it many times to the team, it is always about that. It’s in that situation how we react and how we compete.”
Guardiola singled out the disallowed second-half goal by Antoine Semenyo, which was awarded on the pitch but overturned by VAR Stuart Attwell on offside lines involving Haaland. The decision required referee Chris Kavanagh to review a pitch-side image after VAR judged Haaland to have been actively interfering with Malick Thiaw’s attempt to clear the effort. Guardiola asked why the decision had to be referred: “Four officials and VAR were not able to take the decision, they had to go to the referee,” he said, later adding with sarcasm: “Today, the line was perfect. Millimetres.”
He also recycled incidents from earlier in the season on Tyneside and the Premier League meeting with Newcastle, describing those moments as missed punishments, including what he called “two insane penalties.” “In the league game here, 60 minutes and 20 minutes, take a look,” Guardiola said. “I don’t understand why in the Premier League game with [Fabian] Schär on Phil [Foden] why VAR didn’t say anything. Then the penalty with [Jérémy] Doku and Thiaw.”
Guardiola referenced last season’s FA Cup final as part of his wider critique: “Did you review the FA Cup final last season? When [Dean] Henderson touched the ball outside the box. Did I say anything?” He urged those responsible for officiating to answer for decisions: “Ask them. Who is the boss of the referees? Ask him [Howard Webb]. It’s the semifinals. We play for a lot to reach the finals. It will make us stronger.”
The reaction to VAR decisions has also drawn outside comment, with ITV pundit Ian Wright calling one contentious FA Cup ruling “absolutely pathetic.”
Arsenal
Arteta clarifies Saka absence as Madueke steps into Cup spotlight
Arteta: Saka had a warm-up niggle; Madueke responded when called, with Chelsea tie on Tuesday. Read.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka was withdrawn from the squad for Saturday’s win over Leeds United after picking up “a little niggle” in the warm-up. The injury was the only notable setback on a positive day for Arsenal ahead of the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
“He wasn’t comfortable to start the game, so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in,” Arteta said, explaining the decision to replace Saka before kick-off.
Squad depth on the right flank was a specific objective for the club during the summer transfer window. Arteta has been open about his intention to assemble multiple high-quality options in every position, and securing a reliable deputy for Saka was part of that plan.
Arsenal agreed a package worth as much as £52 million ($71.4 million) to sign Madueke from Chelsea, and circumstances provided an early opportunity when Saka was sidelined earlier in the season. While the headline goal-and-assist figures have not matched expectations, Madueke has “undoubtedly passed the eye test this season,” contributing when called upon.
Arteta praised the new arrival for his attitude and preparation. “The way he prepares, the way he’s waiting for opportunity, I think he paid off today because he really impacted the team,” the manager said, highlighting Madueke’s readiness to fill the role.
On the collective task, Arteta added: “We talked before the game, it’s going to be a long game, we’re going to have to navigate through different moments in the game, and we’re going to need everybody fulfilling the role that they have on the day, and I think the players executed that incredibly well.”
Madueke is the leading candidate to occupy the right wing when Arsenal face his former club on Tuesday, though Arteta’s squad contains several possible options for the position.
Arsenal
Arteta: Declan Rice’s tunnel confrontation with coach is resolved
Arteta says tunnel confrontation between Declan Rice and a coach, after Carabao Cup win is resolved.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the confrontation between Declan Rice and a member of the coaching staff after the Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea has been settled.
The incident unfolded as the team prepared to leave the tunnel. A clearly frustrated Rice was seen gesturing and shouting at Stuivenberg, and a few steps of separation did not reduce the visible tension.
Centre back Gabriel moved between Rice and Stuivenberg to act as a peacemaker and to try to defuse the situation. The Daily Mail brought the clip to the attention of an expert lip-reader, Jeremy Freeman, who claimed Rice told Stuivenberg to “just go,” before telling Gabriel the coach “does not know what he’s on about.” Gabriel told Rice to “calm down” and the situation ultimately soothed.
Ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Nottingham Forest, Arteta was asked for an explanation of the episode. He declined to expand and said: “All sorted, all good.” When pressed on whether the exchange was a sign of Rice’s determination to succeed, Arteta added: “Yes, and the good thing is that by the time I found out the problem was resolved so that’s very good.”
Arteta’s comments confirmed the issue was handled internally and that no further action would be disclosed. The sequence of events — a tunnel confrontation after the Carabao Cup win, Gabriel intervening, lip-reading claims about Rice’s words, and Arteta’s public reassurance ahead of the Nottingham Forest match — forms the complete account presented by the club and media coverage.
Carabao Cup
Ronaldo’s Praise and the Evidence: Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough Record Reviewed
Ronaldo praised Michael Carrick as a potential coach after brief United reunion; mixed Middlesbrough.
Cristiano Ronaldo publicly backed Michael Carrick’s future in coaching after briefly seeing him in charge at Manchester United. The two had shared three seasons at Old Trafford, where Ronaldo made 127 appearances alongside Carrick and the pair won three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.
The reunion in November 2021 lasted just three matches after the club replaced Ole Solskjær with Carrick as caretaker. Carrick oversaw a 2–0 win over Villarreal in which Ronaldo scored the first goal of the caretaker tenure. Five days later Carrick named Ronaldo as a substitute for a trip to Stamford Bridge and was rewarded with a brace from the forward in a 3–2 victory over Arsenal, Carrick’s final match in charge.
After that game Ronaldo wrote: “Michael Carrick was a class act as a player and he can become a great coach as well,” and added, “Nothing is impossible for this guy. Personally, I’m proud to have played with him by my side as well as with him as a manager on our bench.”
Ronaldo’s earlier social-media message on Solskjær’s departure read: “He’s been my striker when I first came to Old Trafford and he’s been my coach since I came back to Man. United . But most of all, Ole is an outstanding human being. I wish him the best in whatever his life has reserved for him.” That post did not reference Solskjær’s coaching ability.
Carrick’s senior managerial record comes from three seasons at Middlesbrough. Tenure: Oct. 25, 2022—June 4, 2025. Games 136; Wins 63; Draws 24; Losses 49. Goals scored 220; Goals conceded 177. League finishes: 4th, 8th, 10th.
Carrick took over a Championship side on Oct. 25, 2022, when they sat one point above the relegation zone. After abandoning a back-three system he guided the club into the top four, only for Middlesbrough to be eliminated from the playoff semi-finals by Coventry City. A seven-game winless run began the 2023–24 season but was followed by six straight league wins, a rare run for the club. Middlesbrough also reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, aided by the emergence of Morgan Rogers, who was sold in February 2024 to Aston Villa. Chuba Akpom and Emmanuel Latte Lath, Carrick’s top scorers across his first two seasons, were also sold. Over his three years the club were outspent by ten teams and recorded the fifth-largest profit from player trading. Departures of key players were a factor in the failure to achieve Premier League promotion.
