Enzo Maresca has pointed to Manchester City’s controversial derby defeat in 2023 after officials admitted their winning goal against Manchester United on Sunday should not have stood.
City won 1-0 at Old Trafford through Erling Haaland’s second-half goal, despite playing with 10 men following Phil Foden’s dismissal.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside before VAR overturned the decision. Haaland was onside, but Enzo Fernandez had attempted to play the ball from an offside position and should have been penalised for interfering with play.
Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb subsequently said the VAR team had suffered from “tunnel vision” when reviewing the incident, with United contacted after the mistake was acknowledged.
Maresca, however, immediately recalled City’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in January 2023, when Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser was allowed to stand despite the offside Marcus Rashford running towards the ball before Fernandes scored.
“Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you,” said Maresca.
“Three years ago, when I was here, it happened exactly the same against Man United; we lost the derby there. The goal was not a regular goal, if you remember? And to be honest, no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that goal.
“Sometimes it happens for you, sometimes against you. It’s football.”
Maresca’s point was clear enough. City benefited from the mistake at Old Trafford on Sunday, but their manager has not forgotten a derby decision that went against them.
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