Steven Gerrard reveals what linesman said to him about VAR decision following Manchester United loss

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has revealed the explanation he was given surrounding the VAR decision that went against his side in the loss at Old Trafford.

Villa had two goals disallowed on Monday evening with the first resulting in a drawn out VAR check that lasted nearly four minutes.

And Gerrard claims he’s still not been given clear reasoning as to why but was more frustrated with the length of time it took rather than the explanation itself.

“The linesman said that it was to do with JJ [Jacob Ramsey] impeding [Edinson] Cavani’s run,” said the Villa boss.

“Then I heard that he’d come from an offside position.

“I’ve heard an array of different things to be honest.

“The disappointing thing for me is that it took three and a half minutes to straighten out because I thought we were in a good place, we had good rhythm.

“We were playing well, we were pushing for the equaliser and I thought that three and a half minute spell took a lot of sting out of the game.”

As Gerrard said, it was a near four minute break in play between Danny Ings putting the ball in the back of the net and referee Michael Oliver finally giving the signal for no goal.

And aside from the pure frustration for the personnel on the field, those in the stadium were left completely in the dark.

There was a tanoy announcement informing spectators that there was a VAR check happening followed by three minutes of nothing until eventually Oliver pointed for a free-kick to Manchester United.

Everyone in attendance understood that the goal was disallowed but nobody really knew why.

And Gerrard says he can’t fathom why it took so long to come to a conclusion but won’t blame the whole charade for his side’s loss.

“I don’t think anyone did in the stadium [knew what was happening] in all honesty but for me now that I’ve heard the reasons why I don’t think it was that complex to need three and a half minutes to straighten that out,” added the Villa boss.

“So look, it is what it is, it’s gone against us tonight which is frustrating but that’s not the reason we’ve lost the game.

“That could have gone our way but we’ve created enough from open play to score two or three goals tonight in my opinion and we’ve conceded a real sloppy one from a second phase which is disappointing.

“We need to focus on other things, not just a decision on VAR going against us.”

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