MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca backed referee Michael Oliver’s decision to send off Phil Foden in his team’s 1-0 win against Manchester United, but said that Reds captain Bruno Fernandes should also have been shown a red card for the triggering the incident.
Erling Haaland‘s second-half goal on Sunday, awarded after a lengthy VAR check for offside, sealed victory for City in the 199th Manchester derby to keep Maresca’s team level on points with defending champions Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and maintained the team’s 100 percent winning start to the season.
But City were forced to play with 10 players for more than an hour following Foden’s 25th minute dismissal for kicking out at Fernandes.
Referee Michael Oliver brandished a red card to Foden — City’s first Premier League red card against United since 2006 — but VAR did not intervene to recommend a review of Fernandes’ involvement.
And Maresca said that the United midfielder was fortunate to avoid a red card for appearing to kick Foden while he was on the ground.
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“Phil’s card is a red card, but I also think the same action is a red card by Bruno, [Fernandes],” Maresca told reporters. “I think reviewing the action, and I reviewed it immediately, it is a clear red card for Phil because it is a reaction.
“But you can also see Bruno [foul Foden]. But anyway, it is what it is. Red card, but we won.
“Last year I was here with Chelsea and we had red card after three minutes, so next time I was hoping for a different story.
“We had a plan for 11 vs. 11, but after the red card, the game completely changed, but also for them.
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“They [United] love transition and space in behind, but the game became more difficult with us and them
“We just drop, no space in behind and no more transitionm which is why the game was also more difficult for them.”
Haaland’s goal sparked the second VAR controversy, with Enzo Fernández deemed not to be interfering with play in the six-yard box.
“Erling was onside,” Maresca said. “The fourth official told me this, he said it was only a question of the action in the centre. But I think it was completely clear that it was onside.
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“Erling is working very good. We need to give him rest at some point because after the World Cup he cannot continue the same way all season.
“He is happy, you can see and as much as we keep Erling fit, we are all happy.
“As you say in English, happy wife, happy life. For us, it’s happy Erling, happy life.”
