Manchester City have work to do at the Santiago Bernabeu next week after a terrible end to Tuesday’s clash against Real Madrid.
The Citizens led Los Blancos by two goals to one with just five minutes of normal time remaining thanks to a double from Erling Haaland – before late goals by Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham secured victory for Carlo Ancelotti in the UEFA Champions League.
Should Manchester City progress, a hefty amount of prize money awaits.
After a wobbly start, Pep Guardiola watched his side grow into the game, taking complete control after Haaland opened the scoring, largely thanks to Jack Grealish retaining possession well.
However, the England international was forced off and replaced by Phil Foden after just 30 minutes with an injury – with many unaware of what actually happened as the Manchester City No.10 sat down out of the blue.
Speaking on commentary duty for Amazon Prime, Alan Shearer thinks he saw the moment which injured the £100m man.
Alan Shearer blames lengthy VAR check for Jack Grealish injury against Real Madrid
For some reason, Clement Turpin and his officiating team took over three minutes to decide whether Haaland’s first goal should have stood, despite UEFA using a (typically) speedy automated offside system in their competitions.
On a chilly Manchester night, those three minutes of inactivity surely stiffened a few muscles out on the pitch after the Norwegian’s 19th minute strike, and Shearer feels it was the cause of Grealish going off injured just 11 minutes later.
The Premier League’s record goalscorer complained: “I said it earlier (during the lengthy VAR check). You cannot have elite athletes standing around in the cold for three minutes doing nothing. I’m not surprised Grealish has got injured. It’s not acceptable.”
To give credit where it’s due, Foden impressed after replacing his fellow countryman, forcing a fine save from Thibaut Courtois while also winning the penalty for Haaland’s second goal.
What Alan Shearer has previously said about VAR checks
This is not the first time Shearer has been critical of VAR checks taking an age.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards in January, the Newcastle legend said: “I would love to know the stats or what the physios and doctors, sports scientists, think – is it a reason why we are seeing so many injuries with players? That they’re hanging around a lot because of waiting for decisions.
“These are elite athletes, playing at the highest level, and yet you’re warming up, and you’re going out on a football pitch, yet a lot of time you’re being asked to stand around for three, four, even five minutes and do nothing.
“All of a sudden, then, ten seconds later, you go and sprint for the ball. Is that why we’re seeing so many injuries? Because of hanging around waiting for VAR?
Shearer makes a good point – the sooner we can speed up VAR checks, the better.
