In the quarter-finals of the English League Cup, Manchester City triumphed over Brentford with a 2-0 scoreline, securing a spot in the semi-finals. However, fans and analysts have been more focused on an incident in the 16th minute rather than the match's result.
Controversial moment: Red or yellow?
Early in the match, following a major error by City defender Nathan Aké, Brentford’s attacker Kevin Schade was presented with a golden opportunity. Attempting to stop him, Uzbek player Abduqodir Husanov committed a foul. The referee issued Husanov a yellow card for the incident.
Despite Husanov transforming into an "impenetrable wall" for the remainder of the match and nullifying attacks, Brentford’s coach Keith Andrews expressed serious dissatisfaction with the referee's decision. According to him, Husanov should have been sent off for a 'last-man foul.'
"That was the turning point of the match. I believe the referees made a significant mistake. Our player was heading for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper," Andrews stated after the match.
Guardiola’s “unexpected” offer
The growing media debates in the UK surrounding Husanov and the referee’s decision did not leave Pep Guardiola indifferent. The City coach responded calmly and humorously to the rival coach’s concerns:
"Alright, if he is so upset, I’ll invite him to our training base for a cup of coffee. We can discuss and analyze the situation there at leisure," said the City manager.
Interestingly, Brentford is scheduled to prepare for their next match at Manchester City’s training ground. This means the “coffee chat” between the two coaches could actually become a reality.
A step closer to the semi-finals
In this stage, where the VAR system was not operational, City managed to secure a hard-fought victory. Rayan Cherki’s brilliance and the team’s discipline carried Guardiola’s squad into the semi-finals. Their next challenge will be a two-legged clash against Newcastle United.
British experts particularly praised Abduqodir Husanov’s composure. Despite an early caution, he maintained his composure and became an essential part of City’s defense.
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