Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva bewildered by VAR decision to disallow Manchester City goal against Tottenham

Gabriel Jesus' injury-time winner was chalked off after the ball brushed the arm of Aymeric Laporte

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium. Getty Images

Fans wait while a possible goal by Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus is checked by VAR during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England. AP

Tottenham Hotspur's Danny Rose clears the ball during the Premier League match at The Etihad Stadium, Manchester. PA

Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium. Getty Images

Referee Michael Oliver (3-L) leaves the pitch at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Britain. EPA

Tottenham's Erik Lamela, center, kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England. AP

Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi (R) in action against Tottenham Hotspurs Lucas Moura (C) during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Britain. EPA

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain -Tottenham Hotspur's Danny Rose clears the ball off the line Action Images via Reuters

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talks with Sergio Aguero Action Images via Reuters

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling (R) in action against Tottenham Hotspurs Christian Eriksen (L) during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Britain. EPA

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane (L) controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Britain. EPA

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring a goal with Nicolas Otamendi and team mates before it is disallowed following a VAR review Action Images via Reuters

Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur speaks with Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City after the final whistle during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reuters

Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his sides third goal which is later disallowed by VAR during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom. Getty Images

Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus (R) remonstrates with English referee Michael Oliver after his goal was dissallowed following a VAR decision during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England The match ended in a draw at 2-2. AFP

A goal of Manchester City is disallowed during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Britain. EPA

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus (L) scores a goal that was later disallowed during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Britain. EPA/

“When he did the sign, I didn’t know why,” Kevin de Bruyne said. “Tottenham didn’t know why.” The substituted Bernardo Silva did not know why, either. “At the moment, I celebrated so much the goal that I didn’t even see there was the possibility of a handball,” said the Portuguese.

But handball it was. Tottenham Hotspur escaped. The Manchester City midfielders were twinned in disappointment at the loss of three points. One on the pitch, one on the touchline, both thought Gabriel Jesus had scored an injury-time winner.

When referee Michael Oliver signalled the goal had been chalked off, City had unwanted, unhappy flashbacks. For the second time in four months, VAR had brought them late heartbreak against Tottenham. Their anguish was compounded by the change in rules in the meantime.

Jesus’ goal was disallowed because the ball had flicked off Aymeric Laporte’s arm seconds before. Yet in April, when Fernando Llorente made equally inadvertent contact with his arm, the Spanish striker’s goal stood.

“Last season with a similar situation, we were out of the Champions League,” Silva said. “The ball hits Llorente’s hand and it is a goal. Now it hits Laporte’s hand. It is true the ball hits his hand but come on, you want to cut his arm [off]?”

For De Bruyne, the irritation was all the greater because he felt that, had the ball glanced a Spurs defender’s arm instead of Laporte’s, City would not have been awarded a penalty. But the Belgian argued that Laporte was powerless to prevent it hitting him, with his vision obscured by the proximity of teammate Nicolas Otamendi.

“It’s impossible to take his arm away,” he said, before echoing Silva. “What can he do? should he chop his arm off and play without [it]? There’s nothing he can do because Nico is 10cm in front of him and trying to head the ball. You can’t react in that space and amount of time. Make it clear – handball both sides.”

Where the midfielders differed was in their attitude towards technology. “I like the idea of the VAR,” said Silva; Pep Guardiola, who wanted it to be used in the Premier League last season, is also a fan. De Bruyne is not. “I’m old fashioned, I’m not the biggest pro-VAR,” he said.

If it is changing the game, it may also alter the way players react. “I am starting to get used to it so probably next time I won’t celebrate it,” Silva said. City have suffered from premature celebration. “Last season we celebrated the goal Raz [Raheem Sterling] scored that was disallowed and it is even a bigger frustration.”

That annoyance came in part because City dominated and took a solitary point. They had 30 shots against the Champions League finalists – only the second time Spurs conceded as many since such records were first collated – while Tottenham had just three. “Two,” countered Guardiola, arguing a hopeful Harry Kane effort from the half-way line scarcely counted.

But a defence minus John Stones, who could be out for 10 days with a muscular problem, conceded to both. City let two points slip from their grasp and, after only dropping 16 points last season and only winning the title by one, they are aware the margin for error is limited.

“It is not good to drop two points,” Silva said. “If I remember well, two seasons ago we drew the second game. Last season on the third against Wolves we had a draw.” But that 2017 draw with Everton led to 18 straight wins and Silva vowed: “We will come back stronger.”