Jim Goodwin Questions VAR Decision and Takes Subtle Dig at Celtic Defender Auston Trusty After Heavy Defeat

“JIM GOODWIN ON A RANT” 😤 — He Couldn’t End His Interview Without Mentioning VAR as Dundee United Boss Takes Brutal Dig at Auston Trusty

Jim Goodwin did not hold back after Dundee United’s heavy defeat to Celtic, with the Dundee United boss making it clear that he was unhappy with more than just the result.

Celtic ran out comfortable winners, but for Goodwin, the talking points did not end with the final whistle. The United manager used his post-match interview to question a key VAR decision and also appeared to take a subtle swipe at Celtic defender Auston Trusty.

Goodwin was asked about Trusty’s performance after the American defender played a major role in Celtic’s victory, but rather than simply praising him, the Dundee United boss delivered what sounded like a compliment with a rather brutal message hidden underneath.

“He is a great defender, with brutal force,” Goodwin said.

However, he immediately made it clear that Trusty’s style was not necessarily the type of defending he personally prefers.

“To me, I prefer smart defenders instead.”

The comment quickly caught attention because Trusty had impressed with his physicality and aggression, but Goodwin appeared to suggest that strength and force alone are not everything when it comes to defending at the highest level.

The Dundee United manager then turned his attention towards the controversial moment surrounding Celtic’s second goal.

Goodwin insisted that he believed there was a possible handball in the build-up and questioned why VAR did not intervene.

“More also, the build-up to the second, I feel there is a handball which the VAR should have made the right judgement,” he said.

For Goodwin, the decision was particularly frustrating because Dundee United had started the game with hopes of making life extremely difficult for Celtic. Instead, Celtic punished them clinically, and once the visitors established control, United struggled to recover.

The United boss was visibly disappointed with the way the match unfolded and admitted that he felt sympathy for his players.

“I felt sorry for my boys, to be frank,” Goodwin said.

The defeat was particularly painful because Dundee United had moments where they could have changed the course of the game. The hosts struck the woodwork several times, creating opportunities that could easily have made the contest far more competitive.

But Celtic were ruthless.

The visitors took their chances, defended their lead and eventually turned the match into a convincing victory.

For Goodwin, however, the result was not simply about Celtic’s superiority.

The VAR discussion clearly remained in his mind, and despite being asked about other aspects of the game, the United manager could not resist returning to the issue.

“Well, this is just the beginning of the season,” he added.

That final remark could be interpreted as a warning that he expects controversial decisions and VAR debates to become an ongoing talking point as the campaign progresses.

Goodwin’s comments also add an interesting layer to the performance of Trusty. The Celtic defender was praised as a “great defender”, but the qualification that he possesses “brutal force” rather than the intelligent defending Goodwin prefers has already generated debate among supporters.

It was a classic footballing compliment with a sting in the tail.

Celtic, meanwhile, will be delighted to leave Tannadice with a convincing victory and another statement of intent early in the campaign.

For Dundee United, the focus now shifts towards recovering quickly. Goodwin will know that his team cannot afford to dwell on the defeat for too long, but judging by his post-match reaction, the manager certainly believes there were moments in the game that deserved closer scrutiny.

And one thing is clear: Jim Goodwin was not prepared to leave the VAR controversy behind when the interview ended.