Maresca: VAR row overshadowing City's 10-man derby win 'quite poor'
Synopsis
Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford with 10 men for most of the second half — and their manager thinks the VAR storm around Haaland's goal is burying that story. Maresca isn't just defending the result; he's still waiting for an apology over a 2023 United goal City believe was equally flawed.
Key Takeaways
Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday , extending their Premier League winning run to four matches .
City played with 10 men for approximately 70-75 minutes of the second half.
Erling Haaland's 60th-minute goal was initially flagged offside, then reinstated by VAR — a review later confirmed to have missed an offside by Enzo Fernandez .
Manager Enzo Maresca said it was 'quite poor' to let the officiating error overshadow what he called an 'unbelievable' team display.
Maresca also referenced a January 2023 loss to United where a controversial goal was allowed — and said City are 'still waiting for an apology' for that incident.
City next face Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has called it 'quite poor' that the VAR controversy surrounding Erling Haaland's winning goal dominated the post-match narrative, insisting his side's 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday deserved far greater recognition. City completed the win with 10 men for the majority of the second half, extending their Premier League winning run to four matches.
Key Developments
Haaland's 60th-minute strike settled the Manchester derby, but the goal was initially ruled out for offside before a VAR review reinstated it. Post-match scrutiny revealed the review had failed to account for an offside position involving Enzo Fernandez, who was considered to have interfered with play from a central area — an error that officiating authorities subsequently acknowledged.
What Maresca Said
'Talking about one episode or 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, and I'm pleased with the performance,' Maresca told reporters ahead of City's Carabao Cup third-round clash against Norwich City.
The Italian manager also referenced a comparable incident from his time as an assistant under Pep Guardiola, when City lost 2-1 to United in January 2023 after a controversial goal was allowed to stand. 'Three years ago when I was here, it happened the exact same against United. The goal was not a regular goal, and no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that,' he said.
Officiating Error Acknowledged
Maresca appeared measured in his response to the confirmation of the officiating mistake, declining to pursue the matter further. 'There is knowledge that there was a mistake, and that's all. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you. It's football,' he said. His restraint contrasted with the wider debate the incident sparked among pundits and supporters over the weekend.
What's Next for City
With the derby behind them, Manchester City now shift their focus to the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Norwich City. The result at Old Trafford has reinforced City's early-season resilience, and Maresca will be hoping the conversation turns from officiating controversies to the quality of his squad's performance under pressure.
Point of View
But it cuts both ways. A VAR system that misses a qualifying offside in one of the season's biggest fixtures is a systemic failure, not a one-off. City's 10-man display was genuinely impressive, yet the officiating error hands United's supporters a grievance that will linger regardless of how graciously the City manager moves on. Maresca's callback to the January 2023 incident also signals something important: clubs have long memories on disputed goals, and the accumulation of unresolved controversies is eroding confidence in VAR's credibility rather than building it.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Enzo Maresca unhappy about the VAR controversy after the Manchester derby?
Maresca believes the focus on the VAR error surrounding Haaland's goal has overshadowed Manchester City's achievement of beating Manchester United 1-0 while playing with 10 men for roughly 70-75 minutes. He described the performance as 'unbelievable' and said it deserved to be the main talking point.
What was the VAR error in the Manchester City vs Manchester United match?
Erling Haaland's 60th-minute goal was initially ruled offside, but VAR reinstated it. It was later confirmed that the review failed to detect an offside position by Enzo Fernandez, who was deemed to have interfered with play — making the original flag potentially correct.
What earlier controversy did Maresca reference?
Maresca referred to a January 2023 match in which Manchester City lost 2-1 to United after a goal was allowed despite controversy over the decision. He said no one apologised for that error and that City are 'still waiting' for an acknowledgement.
What is Manchester City's next fixture after the derby win?
Manchester City face Norwich City in the third round of the Carabao Cup, a match Maresca was addressing reporters ahead of when he made his post-derby comments.
How many matches have Manchester City won in a row in the Premier League?
The 1-0 victory over Manchester United extended Manchester City's Premier League winning run to four consecutive matches.
