Published: 23:21, 13 January 2026 | Updated: 23:25, 13 January 2026

Manchester City took a huge step towards Wembley on Tuesday but Pep Guardiola left Newcastle enraged about the unpredictability and unreliability of VAR.

City have control of their Carabao Cup semi-final, having won the first leg at St James' Park 2-0 thanks to goals from new signing Antoine Semenyo and, deep into added time, Rayan Cherki. Turning the situation around, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted, will be his 'biggest challenge'.

Guardiola was thrilled with City's performance but he couldn't contain his emotions after a preposterous 5min 30s second stoppage that eventually ended with Semenyo having a goal disallowed; Erling Haaland was deemed to be offside.

Even Howe recognised that the delay was 'too long' but Guardiola went further and, having kept his counsel when City were beaten 2-1 at this stadium in November – a game in which a number of decisions when against his team – the Catalan couldn't hold back.

When asked whether Semenyo should have doubled City's lead, Guardiola said: 'It's a good question. I would like to know why...