Sports
Andrews baffled after Manchester City escape red card for ‘crazy tackle’ in Carabao Cup defeat
Keith Andrews was incensed that Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov was not sent off in Brentford’s 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
City eventually secured a comfortable win to progress to the semi-finals and dump the Bees out but things could have been much different had Khusanov seen red early in the game when the scores were at 0-0 after denying Kevin Schade a goalscoring opportunity with a foul.
The German burst through two defenders before he was brought down by the Uzbekistan international with the clumsy challenge, with the striker seemingly through on goal had he not been brought down.
Referee Sam Barrott only deemed the foul worthy of a yellow card and with no VAR in operation in the Carabao Cup, the decision stood.
The hosts went on to win thanks to Rayan Cherki’s stunner and Savinho’s deflected strike but Bees boss Andrews felt hard-done-by and was sure to make his feelings known after the game.
He told Sky Sports: “I think it’s a red. I think the officials have made a mistake. I’m very quick to support the officials because they have a very difficult job.
“The explanation we were given was the referee’s assistant gave it on the far side that they felt the touch was too big or going away from goal.
“I don’t see that at all, I didn’t see it at the time, I haven’t seen it when I’ve watched the replays back. He’s going straight through on goal.
“It’s a crazy tackle, he takes him out. I don’t see it any other way than being a red card.”
Opposing manager Pep Guardiola was not as convinced about Andrews’ reading of the indicdent, responding to the Irish manager’s thoughts: “Yeah OK…
“Tomorrow, in the training ground, I’ll invite him for a coffee to discuss that with him.”
Guardiola: Cherki goal ‘outstanding’ but he did not do enough defensively
Guardiola was full of praise for Cherki’s stunning opener, a superb drive into the top corner – but added that the Frenchman was taken off in the second half after shirking his defensive responsilities.
The City boss said “He’s exceptional, made a fantastic goal; a blind guy, blind woman can realise – it’s not necessary to be a journalist or manager.
“It was a fantastic, fantastic goal. I saw many times with Phil [Foden] this type of goal, Kevin [De Bruyne] before. I’m happy he opened the game!”
He then added: “I’m really pleased for the impact from the guys who came from the bench, because in the second-half Rayan Cherki didn’t do the job he should defensively – he had no energy, Savinho neither.
“That’s why the impact from Josko [Gvardiol], Matheus [Nunes], especially Bernardo [Silva] helped a lot to increase rhythm!
“I didn’t want to play Nico Gonzalez, Nico O’Reilly 90 minutes again – they’ve played a lot and we have Saturday; a massively important game against West Ham.
“Same like Phil [Foden] – I didn’t want him to play the minutes he played but the injury from Oscar [Bobb] happened. But everyone that came from the bench was really, really good!”
