Pep Guardiola 'understands' law that led to Ederson injury in Newcastle victory
- Goalkeeper Ederson was substituted after suffering injury in collision with Sean Longstaff
- Play allowed to continue despite Newcastle players being offside
- City fans were fuming having seen John Stones sidelined by similar incident in December
Pep Guardiola admitted he understood why officials allowed play to continue before goalkeeper Ederson was injured early on in Manchester City's 3-2 win at Newcastle United on Saturday night.
The Magpies had the ball in City's net as Sean Longstaff poked in, though an offside flag belatedly went up to chalk the goal off. However, Brazilian shot-stopper Ederson collided with Longstaff and teammate Kyle Walker and was eventually replaced by Stefan Ortega in the eighth minute.
The injury comes soon after defender John Stones was sidelined in similar circumstances in the 3-1 victory at Everton in late December. The England international injured his ankle when sliding in to make a block on Toffees striker Beto, who was offside but allowed to play on before the flag went up as per VAR protocol.
Speaking about the Ederson incident, Guardiola said: "Against Everton it was tight, the line was tight and there was no doubts so I understand the linesman not raising the flag.
"But today is so much clearer, it's two injuries.
"Teams like Liverpool, Spurs, Aston Villa, ourselves try to stay high and stay in that position so when it is clear, you have to wait for it which is the law but when it is clear you have to do it.
"The rule is the rule, I understand why the rule is the rule."
City now face an anxious wait to find out how serious Ederson's injury is. Understudy Ortega made three saves after entering the action but also conceded twice in three minutes as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon put Newcastle ahead after Bernardo Silva had smartly opened the scoring.
However, substitute Kevin De Bruyne changed the game with a goal in the 74th minute and the assist for Oscar Bobb's late winner, lifting the Cityzens up to second in the Premier League table, two points behind current leaders Liverpool.
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