We lost 2 finals because of them: Guardiola says in fresh onslaught against referees
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has launched a scathing attack on officiating in the Premier League, stating that his team has been the victim of poor decisions by officiating teams in the past.
City return to the league chase this Wednesday, May 13, 2026, when they face Crystal Palace.
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Speaking on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Spaniard remarked that they lost the FA Cup after the referees failed to live up to the required standards.
Lost two FA finals
“We lost the two FA Cup finals because the referees didn’t do their job that they should do. Even the VAR. When this happened, it is because we have to do better. You have to do it better. Do it better. If you want to be in that position, do better because you have to blame yourselves for it. VAR is a flip of a coin. You have to do it better yourself,” he added.
He further claimed he has “never trusted anything” regarding referees and VAR since his arrival in England.
“Not the referees. I have never trusted anything [with VAR] since I arrived a long time ago,” he said while commenting on the recent controversial decision in the West Ham clash against Arsenal.
Arsenal moved five points clear of City with two games remaining after edging past West Ham 1-0 on Sunday, as the hosts were denied a late equaliser following a VAR review for a foul on goalkeeper David Raya.
While maintaining that his focus is fully on Crystal Palace, whom they face in hopes of cutting into Arsenal’s five-point cushion at the top, he insisted that the responsibility for upholding officiating standards lies squarely with match officials.
Pep dismissed the idea that the Palace tie would negatively impact his players’ morale, admitting that while they will be fighting as they always have, their fate remains out of their hands.
“Of course, it is not in our hands in this Premier League. I have always learned, in my career as a manager, what you cannot control, so forget about it. Do better than what you have not done better this season and arrive in better positions to fight for the Premier League. We are still fighting,” he explained.
His remarks follow after he admitted he finds chasing a treble less stressful than last season, when City was fighting to even qualify for the Champions League.
Feeling pressure?
“The hours before the game, I feel the pressure, but the process between games, I am calmer. Last season was 24 hours of thinking, ‘what will happen at the club if we will not qualify for the Champions League?’ I felt it a lot,” Guardiola said before City’s loss at Everton.
“This season we won the Carabao Cup, [reached the] FA Cup final again, and are still fighting against Arsenal, so what can I say? It is really good.”
