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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Rodri hits out at VAR after Man City held to frustrating draw by Chelsea: 'None for us'

Rodri hit out at the officiating after Manchester City were held to a frustrating draw by Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola’s side went into the match on an 11-match winning run in all competitions, establishing themselves as favourites for a four successive Premier League title.

But, after Liverpool and Arsenal both eased to big wins earlier in the day, City could not match them in the late kick-off, needing an 83rd-minute equaliser from Rodri just to earn a point against Chelsea after a 1-1 draw.

City players grew increasingly frustrated as the match went on, with Kyle Walker furious to not be awarded a penalty and spot-kick appeals for a late Levi Colwill handball also waved away. Rodri was left unimpressed by the officiating.

“I don't want to talk about the referee, but I don't remember a game with so many VAR checks and none for us - come on man,” Rodri told Match of the Day.

“You always see the face of referee and it's now 'move on, move on'.

The draw leaves City third in the table, two points behind Arsenal and four off the pace set by Liverpool at the top, though they do have a game in hand over both.

That comes in midweek, at home to Brentford, and Rodri is confident that there will be a swift response, as he warned City’s rivals that they must be prepared to go the distance in the title race.

"There's still a long way until the end of the season,” the City midfielder said.

“We have to win against Brentford. We were on a very good run and we know none of us three [City, Liverpool and Arsenal] will win every game until the end. We have to have strong mentality and move on to the next one.

"We have enough experience to know it's just the beginning of the last part of the season. We want to win but we have to check ourselves and in the first half with our defending we have to be stronger for the rest of the season."

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