Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, speaking in Manchester, England, on September 16, 2026, has defended the controversial VAR decision surrounding Erling Haaland’s decisive goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, insisting the incident should be viewed as part of the game rather than a defining controversy.

The Maresca VAR error Haaland Man United win discussion intensified after the Premier League derby on Sunday, where Haaland’s goal stood despite a VAR review that many expected would overturn the decision.

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The outcome sparked renewed debate over officiating standards and the growing influence of technology in high-profile matches.

Maresca, however, moved quickly to shift focus away from the incident, stressing that Manchester City’s performance across the match deserved greater attention than a single disputed moment.

“To focus on that one episode after the performance we produced is quite poor,” Maresca said, underscoring his belief that the result reflected a broader team effort rather than a refereeing controversy.

He further described the situation as an unavoidable aspect of football, stating, “The VAR error is part of football,” a remark that has since drawn mixed reactions from supporters of both clubs.

The Maresca VAR error Haaland Man United win narrative also reopened past tensions between the two Manchester rivals.

Maresca referenced an earlier contentious decision at Old Trafford in 2023, when Manchester City were left frustrated following Marcus Rashford’s goal in a 2-1 defeat, a match that still lingers in the club’s memory.

While acknowledging that such moments can fuel debate, Maresca insisted Manchester City would not dwell on officiating decisions, instead highlighting the importance of maintaining momentum in a demanding season schedule.

Secondary focus in his press briefing centred on squad management, with Maresca confirming planned rotation for City’s Carabao Cup fixture against Norwich.

He noted that several players would be given opportunities to build fitness and rhythm as the club prepares for a congested run of domestic and European fixtures.

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Despite the controversy surrounding the derby winner, Manchester City’s camp remains firm that their focus lies on performance consistency, with Maresca’s comments reinforcing a pragmatic stance on refereeing decisions that continue to divide opinion across the Premier League.