Zimpapers Logo

MANCHESTER. — Phil Jagielka has branded Martin Atkinson “arrogant” as Everton’s fury towards the referee mounted following their controversial exit from the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Everton’s captain — like his manager Roberto Martinez — was furious that Kevin De Bruyne’s goal, which gave Manchester City a 2-1 lead and levelled the semi-final on aggregate, was allowed to stand after Raheem Sterling ran the ball out of play before crossing.

Jagielka tried to speak with Atkinson – who has history with Everton – immediately but the England international claims the match official gave him a sarcastic reply and said he “just told me that our defending was brilliant”.

The official has been at the centre of a row with Everton before, after he sent Jack Rodwell off in a Merseyside derby in October 2011. That red card that was later rescinded.

After Wednesday’s game, Martinez was outraged by Atkinson’s decision and insisted the complexion of the tie changed dramatically from that moment and, as he reflected on the defeat, Jagielka said he was “speechless” that such a high-profile mistake had been made.

“The replays show it is not just an inch or so out,” he said. “You expect the officials that are supposed to be of a high standard to spot that but it obviously wasn’t one of those nights. I tried to (speak to Atkinson). He just told me that our defending was brilliant.

“So it is difficult when things start going the wrong way and they become a little bit arrogant – but unfortunately that is the way it goes.

“If he made a decision wrong or he didn’t see it that is what happens. Sometimes when you go and speak to people and, in such big games, get the answers you get, it is that little bit more frustrating.”

He added: “It is really hard. You know your luck is obviously not in when the deflection goes in for the first goal and then as the game is heating up and they are piling on the pressure, some decisions that still bemuse me now – throw-ins given for I don’t know what.”

Everton manager Martinez also complained that his team had been unjustly denied a place in the League Cup final after a controversy-flecked semi-final loss to Manchester City.

Everton were 3-2 up on aggregate in Tuesday’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium when De Bruyne drew City level in the 70th minute despite Sterling appearing to have taken the ball beyond the byline before cutting the ball back for his Belgian team-mate.

Six minutes later De Bruyne crossed for Sergio Aguero to head in the decisive goal in a 4-3 aggregate win, setting up a meeting with Liverpool in next month’s final, but Martinez felt the damage had been done earlier.

“It was a clear decision – the ball is out of play,” said Martinez. “The second goal, I felt that decision affected too much the outcome of us reaching Wembley or not. That is why it hurts.

“You don’t mind if Manchester City find a way of being outstanding and scoring three goals. It is very difficult to find an explanation in the dressing room for the players, to find a reason we have been knocked out.

“That is hurtful and unfair. We want to make sure we pay our fans back and take them to Wembley this season.”

Asked if the incident emphasised the need for video technology to be introduced to the sport, Martinez responded: “My question is, do we need technology to get that right?

“For me that action is so clear. I would expect an international or Premier League linesman to get that call right. I would expect a top referee to get his angle and his position right.”

Leading 2-1 from the first leg, Everton extended their advantage in the 18th minute of the return leg when Ross Barkley left Nicolas Otamendi and Fabian Delph for dead before steering a shot into the bottom-left corner. — Mailonline-AFP.