Manchester City are out of the Champions League.Pep Guardiola's team were outdone by Lyon last night in Lisbon, the French side winning 3-1 to progress to the semi-finals of Europe's elite competition.It's yet another continental failure for Guardiola. The Spaniard has failed to qualify for the final four of the Champions League during his time as manager of City.Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele scored two late goals to seal victory for Lyon and his first to make it 2-1 on the night was shrouded in controversy.Aymeric Laporte was accidentally tripped over by Dembele in the build-up, but despite the intervention of VAR, Lyon were awarded the goal.
It's yet another decision from the technology that has left fans baffled and Laporte himself has taken to social media to voice his frustration.The French centre-back tweeted footage of Rio Ferdinand claiming the incident was indeed a foul alongside a caption reading: "Can't say @rioferdy5 is a big City fan, is he? Still that's what I got sent tonight..."
Every replay makes the decision to not call a foul look more laughable than before.
Laporte followed up the footage of Ferdinand in the BT Sport studio by adding: "Just to be clear: I will not hide, I'm a football player but a man foremost, we all made mistakes in this game, and I also take my responsibility for the bad team performance tonight. But this decision is hard to accept, especially in a crucial qualifier AND with the help of VAR."
Fair play, Aymeric.
While City's defence were sub-par throughout and unable to nullify Lyon's threat on the counter, the decision against Laporte was simply unacceptable.
VAR was introduced to correct such mistakes by the on-field officials. However, the technology appears to do little more than add to the controversy in game-defining moments.
But while City have every right to feel hard done by, there is no excuse for Guardiola's questionable tactics out in Lisbon, ones which cost his team dear in the Champions League once again.