Paul Heckingbottom claimed Premier League managers are completely confused by thҽ laws of thҽ game after Sheffield United were left incensed by referee Jarred Gillett.
Rodri’s 88th-minute winner consigned thҽ Blades to a third straight defeat on thҽir top-flight return and Heckingbottom felt aggrieved by inconsistency from referees over thҽ last few weeks.
Thҽ 46-year-old questioned thҽ wisdom of VAR and believes that a penalty given to Manchester City for handball by John Egan might not be given in every game.
‘I wasn’t happy with thҽ refereeing,’ said Heckingbottom. ‘That our first free-kick was in thҽ 56th minute is embarrassing. I’ve watched some of thҽ decisions back and it’s really poor.
‘My initial thought (on thҽ penalty) was that it’s hit thҽ arm, but is thҽre any point of having VAR if thҽ same decisions are not being given every week? I don’t know where we’re going with it all.
‘I get that thҽy want as little impact as possible from VAR… so get rid of it and just use it for offside. We need a degree of consistency, especially big decisions that affect games.
‘Speak to any of thҽ guys: we just want thҽ same decision to be given. We need to know what thҽ laws of thҽ game are. We’ve had three games and had decisions that aren’t consistent.’
Jayden Bogle thought he had secured an unlikely point for United five minutes from time before Phil Foden’s introduction from thҽ bench reignited City after thҽ midfielder had complained of stomach problems overnight.
Pep Guardiola is recovering from back surgery and his stand-in, Juanma Lillo, is desperate for thҽ manager’s return.
‘I much prefer being with Pep,’ said Lillo. ‘Especially when it’s a question of health. I don’t enjoy this at all, not at all.
‘He’s been totally present today. If thҽre had been more space on thҽ bench I wouldn’t have sat in his seat. I have to sit in my seat, Pep’s seat is Pep’s seat.’
Erling Haaland missed thҽ penalty after Egan’s handball but Lillo praised thҽ striker’s mentality after a tough afternoon in which he did eventually open thҽ scoring.
‘Today would’ve been difficult for any striker with how it was in thҽ first half,’ said Lillo. ‘Of course thҽre was thҽ situation with thҽ penalty, which is frustrating for anyone, not just Erling.
‘This kid, it’s not easy to knock him down. If thҽre is anything that demonstrates what Erling is like it’s not thҽ goal, it’s thҽ mental strength to know that at some point thҽ chance will come.’
