City appeared to be heading for an important away victory until the 90th minute, when Eric Dier converted from the spot. The penalty was awarded after a VAR review, which overturned the referee’s initial call of no foul, ruling that Nico Gonzalez’s high foot on Dier constituted a dangerous challenge inside the area.

Replays showed Gonzalez making contact with the ball first before Dier went down under pressure, sparking debate about whether the decision was overly harsh. Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports after the game, voiced his frustration. “It’s an unfair free-kick. Then we concede a penalty when we touched the ball first, not the opponent. No intention. It is what it is,” he said.

The City boss stopped short of directly criticizing VAR but made it clear that he believed his team had been hard done by. “I don’t know. It’s given as a penalty, that’s all,” Guardiola added, in a resigned tone that underlined his displeasure with the outcome.

For Monaco, the late equalizer was a valuable lifeline in a fiercely contested group. The French side had struggled for much of the match, with City dominating possession and creating the clearer chances, but they showed resilience to capitalize on their opportunity when it mattered most.

For Guardiola and his squad, the draw leaves their qualification prospects slightly more complicated. While City remains in contention, dropped points could prove costly in a tight group. The Spaniard, however, insisted his players must quickly move on, saying their focus now shifts to correcting mistakes and ensuring they secure maximum points in their remaining fixtures.