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‘It’s a CLEAR FOUL! They don’t want us to win’ – Rodri fumes at Tottenham’s first goal

‘It’s a CLEAR FOUL! They don’t want us to win’ – Rodri fumes at Tottenham’s first goal while Pep Guardiola gave an awkward response.

The game saw Spurs come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Manchester City, who led through goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo.

Thomas Frank’s side were Spurs booed off at half time, but after the break, Dominic Solanke netted twice in 17 minutes, this first one being a controversial one with VAR clearing a potential foul on Marc Guehi, then Solanke produced stunning scorpion-kick equaliser from a cross.

It sees Man City lose ground in the title race with Arsenal, while Tottenham secure a much needed point to go 14th.

Premier League Match Centre tweeted: “#TOTMCI – 53’ The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge by Solanke on Guéhi deemed not to be a foul as Solanke played the ball. The goal accreditation panel has adjudged the goal to be a Solanke goal.”

Pep Guardiola on the decision to allow Solanke’s first goal after appearing to kick the back of Marc Guehi’s leg in order to score: “I don’t mind an emotional issue for the [first Spurs] goal that the referee gave to Spurs. After that, the momentum is difficult to control. The game was well played.

“Against United, I could say many things [about how we played]. Today, in general, it was really well played.

“You’re saying to me that we stop in the Premier League? We’re 14 games away. We had the injuries. One month ago, we had a lot, so nine, 10 players out, so we know that.

“But at the same time, we are there, and we continue. The calendar is what it is, and now we have a semi-final to reach a final next Wednesday, and after that Anfield, and continue. This is what we have to do.

“As long as the chance is there, the hope is always going to be there.”

In his press conference, he said: “If a central defender does that to a striker, it’s a penalty, right?”

Rodri told Australian broadcaster Stan Sport: “I know we won too much and the people don’t want us to win but the referee has to be neutral and for me honestly, it’s not fair.

“It’s not fair because we work so hard in these situations and now to make these decisions, we have to move on.

“Of course you need to come back but at the end, when everything is finished, we are frustrated because it’s so clear the foul. He kicked the leg and of course with the push of the action on the ball, the ball goes in.

“We have to pay attention to these little things otherwise it’s going to be difficult for everyone because this league is like this – it’s about small details and everything counts, so I think today is a very tough day for us in this sense.

“I don’t know how to feel. Now I see the images. On the pitch you don’t see. It’s a clear foul in the first action of the goal.

“It’s a clear foul and VAR is (there) for a reason. These small details make the difference. We’re trying to do our best, it’s the first goal they scored and maybe if they don’t score the goal, we win the game.

“It’s one game and another game and it’s not possible. And honestly I never speak about referees, I respect their job massively, but they have to pay attention to these things. He’s kicked the leg. It’s so clear, it’s so clear.

“He anticipated the leg of Marc and it’s a clear foul, but it’s not today, it’s two or three games in a row and I don’t know why, honestly.”

Spurs head coach Thomas Frank:

“What I’m extremely happy is we finally got a point out of a big second half. And it felt like a big point, we are playing against the best Premier League team of past seven or eight years, they are competing for the title.

“This team’s ability to respond to setbacks and show resilience is growing bit by bit. It’s been game 11 since [defeat to Nottingham] Forest, but we are showing more consistency, we are more competitive. It’s going in the right direction.

“Not all the results have gone with us. But I think there were good performances against Bournemouth, West Ham and Villa. We just didn’t get at least a point out of it.

“Now we’re getting points, on top of a good performance against Dortmund. It was more good than bad against Burnley, I know it looks bad. And a big performance against Frankfurt.

“So we’re building it with players dropping left right and centre with injuries. That shows everything about the team. I’m so proud of the players.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Rodri fumes at Tottenham’s first goal…

@GeronimoMorgans: Well done, Rodri, for speaking out against refereeing standards. 100% right. It’s been continuous. One game after another. It’s unacceptable.

@adamkeys_: When it happened to other clubs, Rodri told us it was about mentality, now he’s saying they won too much and refs need to be neutral. Let’s see if he gets punished for speaking out like others have.

@_Tobolos_:
“They don’t want us to win”
“It’s not fair”
Sounding like a spoiled child. Horrible mentality

@bailey_wynne2: Speaks well of the situation here, more than reasonable.

@SimonLester24: Let’s break this down a bit: This isn’t about a particular foul in the game, if it was about fouls then Rodri himself would have seen red on two occasions. This is about a team who were dominant for years who have now been caught by the rest of the pack. That then equates to pressure, you can either cope with that pressure or you can’t. You were 2-0 up at Spurs, you should have been out of sight at half time and then you couldn’t cope with the improved Spurs side in the second half, in fact if any team should have won it was Spurs who finished the stronger. So don’t deflect, man up and face the music, you weren’t good enough because you couldn’t manage the pressure and you’re merely looking to deflect away from that in this interview! Weak mentality from a team that questioned others! Times have moved on, Rodri needs to move on with them.

@RodneyMarsh10: >So you can kick a player through the achilles as long as he gets the ball 😳

@BeardsBanter: Complete farce. If they are saying the goal is allowed as he makes contact with the ball, they absolutely did not look at it. It’s a completely broken process.

@FoxyN77: He’s right. Scrap VAR. Focus on producing the best performing officials in the world. They won’t be perfect but the current crop are dreadful with or without the technology.

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