Pep Guardiola has never been one to mince words, and the Manchester City boss has just delivered a stinging verdict on VAR: it's nothing more than a "flip of a coin." In a candid press conference ahead of City's crucial clash with Crystal Palace, Guardiola doubled down on his long-standing skepticism of the technology, urging his players to play so well that referees and VAR become irrelevant.
The system has been under fresh fire this week after West Ham had a stoppage-time winner against Arsenal controversially ruled out following a lengthy review—a decision that could have major implications at both ends of the Premier League table. But for Guardiola, this is just the latest example of a flawed process that has haunted his side in the biggest moments.
Guardiola pointed to back-to-back FA Cup final disappointments in 2024 and 2025 as evidence. Last year's loss to Crystal Palace saw City furious that Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson avoided a red card for handling outside the box—a call that might have swung the game. The year before, against Manchester United, City believed they were denied two clear penalties. "We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn't do their jobs they should do, even the VAR," Guardiola said bluntly.
But here's where Guardiola takes a different approach from most managers. Instead of dwelling on injustice, he's turning the spotlight inward. "When this happens, it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR," he explained. "I never trust anything since I arrived a long time ago. Always I learned you have to do it better, do it better, be in a position to do it better because (VAR) is a flip of a coin."
That mindset will be critical as City face Palace on Wednesday, needing a win to cut Arsenal's lead at the top to just two points. Even then, the title race remains out of their hands—they'll need Arsenal to slip up against relegated Burnley and Palace in their final two games. "Of course it is not in our hands in the Premier League," Guardiola added. "Always I say to the players, 'Do it, do it, do it better.'"
For fans and players alike, Guardiola's message is clear: in a sport where technology can feel like a lottery, the only solution is to make yourself so dominant that no decision can stop you. Now, City have to prove they can do just that.