“Rashford is offside” – Pep Guardiola and Manuel Akanji fume at Manchester United goal

Manchester City have been left fuming at the decision to allow Manchester United’s equalising goal in the Derby on Saturday afternoon.

Bruno Fernandes’ goal as the game approached the final 10 minutes cancelled out Jack Grealish’s breakthrough header, that had initially put Manchester City ahead after a cagey opening 45 minutes and half of the second period of time.

Confusion surrounded the Portugal international’s goal however, as Marcus Rashford appeared to intervene with the play from an offside position, chasing down a ball through the heart of the City defence.

Despite assistant referee Darren Cann initially flagging for an offside – and correctly so, in the viewpoint of many – the review at the VAR hub overruled the decision, and allowed Fernandes’ strike to stand.

Speaking after the defeat at Old Trafford, Pep Guardiola was adamant that Marcus Rashford had interfered with play in the build-up to Bruno Fernandes’ equalising goal for Manchester United this weekend.

Guardiola said, “(Marcus) Rashford (is) offside, Bruno Fernandes no. Rashford is intervening or not, (he) distracted our keeper and distracted our central defenders.”

The man closest to the action, and the player moving to force Rashford into an offside position, Manuel Akanji was equally as frustrated by the decision, and was once again certain that the England forward was in an illegal position as United ran through on goal.

“The first goal is a joke it can be allowed,” Akanji told BBC Sport. “He runs to the last second and stops when the ball is right in front of him and right in front of Eddy to score the goal.”

“He runs for 30 metres, he’s chasing the ball. It’s clearly offside.”

“In the situation, I played him (Marcus Rashford) offside, but he plays until the last second,” Akanji continued. “I understand he doesn’t touch the ball, but for me it is clearly offside.”

The defeat at Old Trafford now means that Manchester City remain five points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, and Manchester United move within one point of Pep Guardiola’s side in second place.

City now look ahead to a home clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night, and will likely hope that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal fall to defeat against the same opponent this weekend to keep their own hopes alive.