MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 03:09:11| >> :60:2513:2513:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 28, 2021 at 4.30pm UK
Stamford Bridge
Manchester United logo

Chelsea
0 - 0
Man Utd


Chilwell (62')
FT

Fred (50'), Maguire (79')

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: 'Managers try to influence referees over penalties'

The Manchester United boss was left frustrated that his team were denied a spot-kick at Stamford Bridge.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes rival managers are trying to influence referees not to award penalties to Manchester United.

The Old Trafford boss was left frustrated that United were denied a penalty in Sunday's goalless Premier League draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was judged not to have deliberately handled the ball when clashing with Mason Greenwood, after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check.

Chelsea players make their feelings known towards Manchester United's Harry Maguire after Stuart Attwell does not award a penalty after a VAR check
Chelsea players make their feelings known towards Manchester United's Harry Maguire after Stuart Attwell does not award a penalty after a VAR check (Andy Rain/PA)

Solskjaer insisted United should have been awarded the penalty, and again railed against what he perceives as attempts from rival bosses to influence officials.

Asked if he had been given an explanation as to why United's penalty claim was rejected, Solskjaer said: "No. They probably thought his hand was in a very natural position when he flicked that ball.

"It's gone now. Obviously they thought his hand was in a natural position when he flicked the ball.

"I'm a bit concerned we don't get those penalties after what noises were made a month or two about us getting penalties.

"There is a point of managers influencing the referees."

Chelsea's Olivier Giroud remonstrates with Harry Maguire
Chelsea's Olivier Giroud remonstrates with Maguire (Andy Rain/PA)

Confirming he was referring to former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard in terms of historic attempts from other managers to influence referees, Solskjaer continued: "That's just the nature of us as managers isn't it?

"If anything goes against you, you probably want to highlight it.

"I trust the referees not to be influenced by it.

"But I was very surprised by this decision.

"Live, I didn't think it was a penalty, so I understand why he didn't give it straight away.

"But looking back, it's not a very natural position to have your hand in."

The draw kept United in second place in the league table, while Chelsea missed the chance to leapfrog West Ham into fourth.

New Blues boss Thomas Tuchel extended his winning start at Stamford Bridge to nine matches, while United stretched their record-breaking run without a Premier League loss on the road to 20 matches.

United full-back Luke Shaw said referee Stuart Attwell insisted awarding a penalty would have caused "a lot of talk after".

Addressing Hudson-Odoi's potential handball, Shaw told Sky Sports: "At the time I saw a handball and didn't know if it was Mason (Greenwood) or Callum.

"I didn't know it was a potential check and that they needed to stop it (the game) if it wasn't going to be a pen.

"But I heard the ref say to H (Maguire), 'if I give a pen it's going to cause a lot of talk after'. H was told it was a pen by VAR, but I'm not going to moan."

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel with Harry Maguire
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel tried to keep out of the penalty debate (Andy Rain/PA)

Chelsea boss Tuchel remained nonplussed on United's frustrations about the penalty not being awarded.

"I was surprised, I'm still surprised, because I didn't see it live where the penalty should come from," said Tuchel.

"When we checked the pictures I could not see any incident that would qualify for a penalty. But maybe I have to look at it again.

"Until now I don't know why it should have to be a penalty."

ID:437243: cacheID:437243:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9475:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Erling Braut Haaland in action for Borussia Dortmund on February 27, 2021
Read Next:
Manchester City 'to push for £100m Haaland deal'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!