Sir Alex Ferguson never missed a chance to cast the spotlight on something else after a Manchester United defeat.
The former boss was an expert at finding issue in the tiniest of perceived slights against his team, that would deflect from criticism of the performance following stinging losses.
Whether it was the referee, opposition players, even sometimes the broadcasters asking tough questions in the aftermath, Ferguson knew how to create a narrative that immunised his players from destabilising outside forces.
And in recent days the ongoing debate at Old Trafford that has dominated airways, newspaper columns and TV segments has been penalties.
Manchester United and penalties is an issue that is seemingly not going away. Whereas back in the day it was ‘Fergie time’ that preoccupied fans and the media, now it’s spot kicks.
The start of the season was dominated by chatter over who will take United’s penalties and free-kicks now Cristiano Ronaldo is back in Manchester. Would he wrestle the duty off Bruno Fernandes’? And if so, how would this affect the team ethos?
Yet thanks to the officials and VAR – according to Solskjaer at least – United have been denied the chance to test this conundrum until Saturday. Last week Ronaldo was twice denied a penalty in the Premier League win over West Ham, which left Solskjaer incensed.
A few days later, following the League Cup loss to the Hammers at Old Trafford, Solskjaer suggested Jurgen Klopp’s comments about United gaining too many penalties – said last winter – was to blame for their spot-kick rate dropping from one in every 2.8 games to now one in every 5.2.
“We just have to hope that we get what we deserve, we should have had three penalties in the last two games,” Solskjaer said. “I don’t know but there was a certain manager last year who was starting to worry about us getting penalties and after that it seems like the decisions are more difficult to give.
“Surely, I’ve seen a big, big difference since then on. We just have to leave it up to the refs and hopefully they will make the right calls very soon.”
On Saturday, then, fresh off the furore of multiple penalty decisions supposedly going against his side, Solskjaer was gifted a reprieve when Kourtney Hause’s arm blocked an Edinson Cavani header late in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
Fernandes stepped up and fired his shot high over the crossbar – a woeful effort from a player so well versed in converting from 12 yards.
Solskjaer wasn’t happy – but not about the missed kick. “The way they get round the penalty spot, get round Bruno and that, that’s not to my liking,” said the boss after the game, pointing to a number of Villa players he felt were trying to put Fernandes off.
“I wasn’t going to mention it but it’s not right that they do that. I guess that should be a yellow card for someone but they have achieved what they wanted.”
Yet when asked if Fernandes was swayed by the apparent distraction, Solskjaer said: “It doesn’t get in Bruno’s head. He’s strong mentally and he’ll step forward again.”
So what was he upset about? Villa playing mind games? Because according to him they didn’t succeed in affecting Fernandes before the fateful attempt. Or was it just the bitterness of losing?
Solskjaer also took aim at the officiating for Hause’s winner, claiming the goal shouldn’t have stood.
“You can take it when it’s a good goal conceded against you, but that’s offside,” said the Norwegian. “He’s touched David (De Gea) as he heads the ball.
Always with you, @B_Fernandes8
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 25, 2021#MUFC | #MUNAVL pic.twitter.com/RuUVgciyUU
“How that’s a goal and Leicester have not got their goals, I just can’t see the consistency and that’s clearly offside.”
Complaining about refereeing consistency. Pointing the finger at other managers. Pulling our attention away from the main issue, that United once again looked disjointed and now face a crunch Champions League game already against Villarreal on Wednesday.
What he doesn’t need now is everyone questioning his team. Better off the Match of the Day analysis and the newspaper comment pieces address other issues.
It’s a craft Solskjaer learned from the best.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3m4xA8i
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