Pep Guardiola admits he’s ‘never trusted’ VAR as Man City try to avoid losing title race on ‘flip of a coin’

The tension around Premier League has reached a boiling point, and at the center of it all stands Pep Guardiola, a man who has seen everything in football but still finds himself questioning one of the most controversial systems in the modern game. As Manchester City continue their desperate chase of Arsenal in the title race, Guardiola has made one thing very clear — he does not trust VAR, and he never has.

This is not just a passing comment. It is not something said in frustration after one bad decision. This is a belief that has been building for years, shaped by moments of controversy, heartbreak, and decisions that have gone against his team in crucial matches. Now, with the title race hanging by a thread, his words carry even more weight.

Guardiola described VAR as something close to a “flip of a coin,” a system that cannot be relied upon when everything is at stake. For a manager who is known for control, precision, and perfection, the idea that outcomes can depend on something unpredictable is deeply unsettling. He believes football should be decided by what happens on the pitch, not by what is reviewed in a room far away.

And right now, the timing of his comments could not be more significant.

Manchester City are five points behind Arsenal. The gap is not impossible to close, especially with a game in hand, but it leaves no margin for error. Every match from this point forward feels like a final. Every dropped point could end their hopes.

Yet, instead of focusing only on tactics or player fitness, there is another factor creeping into the conversation — officiating.

The latest controversy came during Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham United. It was a tense match, one that looked like it could end in a draw after a dramatic late moment. West Ham thought they had scored an equaliser in stoppage time, a goal that would have changed everything in the title race.

But then VAR stepped in.

After a long review, the goal was disallowed. The decision was based on a foul in the build-up, involving Pablo Fornals and David Raya. Referee Chris Kavanagh was advised to check the monitor by VAR official Darren England, and in the end, the goal did not stand.

For Arsenal, it was a moment of relief. A decision that preserved their lead. A decision that kept them firmly in control of the title race.

For Manchester City, it was something else entirely.

It was another reminder that outcomes can be influenced by decisions beyond their control.

Guardiola did not hide his feelings. He made it clear that he has never trusted VAR since it was introduced. For him, the lesson is simple — do not rely on officials, do not rely on technology, and do not expect fairness in moments of uncertainty.

Instead, he tells his players to focus on what they can control.

Play better.

Score more goals.

Dominate games so completely that no decision can take victory away from them.

It sounds simple, but in reality, it is incredibly difficult, especially at this stage of the season when pressure affects every touch of the ball.

Guardiola’s frustration is not only based on recent events. It comes from painful memories, particularly in cup competitions where decisions have cost his team dearly.

He pointed to the FA Cup Final 2024, where City lost to Manchester United. In that match, he felt his team were denied a clear penalty when Lisandro Martínez challenged Erling Haaland. Later in the same game, there were claims that Kobbie Mainoo held Haaland during a set piece.

Nothing was given.

No penalty.

No intervention.

Just another moment that added to Guardiola’s growing distrust.

Then came the FA Cup Final 2025 against Crystal Palace. In that match, there was another controversial incident involving goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area.

Again, no punishment.

Again, no clarity.

Again, frustration.

For Guardiola, these moments are not isolated. They form a pattern. A pattern that has shaped his belief that relying on VAR is dangerous, especially when trophies are on the line.

But despite all of this, he refuses to use it as an excuse.

That is what makes his message powerful.

He does not say, “We lost because of VAR.”

He says, “We must be better.”

That mindset is now being passed on to his players as they prepare for one of the most important matches of their season — a clash against Crystal Palace.

It is a game that City must win.

No debates.

No excuses.

Just victory.

Because anything less could hand the title to Arsenal.

Guardiola knows that focusing on VAR too much can become a distraction. It can take attention away from performance, from preparation, from the small details that win games. That is why he is urging his team to stay locked in, to ignore the noise, and to concentrate fully on the task ahead.

His philosophy is simple but demanding.

Do it better.

Again and again.

Do it better.

That means sharper passing, stronger defending, more clinical finishing.

It means not leaving the result in the hands of a referee or a video review.

It means taking control.

As City prepare to face Crystal Palace, there is a sense of urgency in everything they do. Training sessions are intense. Focus is absolute. Every player understands what is at stake.

The title race is not just about points anymore. It is about mentality.

Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, have shown resilience. They have handled pressure. They have found ways to win even when performances were not perfect.

That is what champions do.

And now City must respond.

The upcoming fixtures add even more pressure. After facing Crystal Palace, City will turn their attention to another massive game — the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

That match carries its own weight, its own expectations, its own history.

But for now, Guardiola does not want his players thinking about that.

Not yet.

Everything is about Crystal Palace.

Everything is about the next 90 minutes.

Because in football, looking too far ahead can be dangerous.

Lose focus for one second, and everything can collapse.

Guardiola has seen it happen before.

He has experienced the highs of winning titles and the lows of losing them in the smallest of margins.

That is why his message is clear, repeated, and relentless.

Focus.

Improve.