Solskjaer insists United should’ve been awarded two penalties
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes that Manchester United were denied two ‘stonewall penalties’ against West Ham on Sunday afternoon.
United were 2-1 winners at the London Stadium thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jesse Lingard, although the Red Devils’ triumph did not come easy.
West Ham took the lead in the first-half through Said Benrahma’s deflected effort, only for Ronaldo to level not long after.
It looked like the game was heading for a draw before substitute Lingard – back at West Ham for the first time since his impressive loan spell last season – curled a strike into the top corner.
However, the drama was not quite over as David Moyes’ side were awarded a penalty as Andriy Yarmolenko’s attempted cross hit Luke Shaw’s outstretched arm – with VAR deeming it worthy of a review, with the penalty awarded soon after.
Staggeringly, though, the Hammers sent on club captain Mark Noble to take the spot kick.
The risky decision failed to pay off as David De Get stood strong to save the penalty and ensure United secured all three points.
Here it is – 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 penalty…😳
Thoughts on the decision to bring Mark Noble on to take #WHUFC's penalty? 😬
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 19, 2021
Despite winning the match, Solskjaer felt that his side should’ve been awarded a number of penalties after the Portuguese captain went down in the box on three occasions.
Whilst the United manager didn’t quite agree with Ronaldo’s belief that they should’ve been given three penalties, he certainly believes that they deserved two.
When asked how many penalties he thinks the Red Devils should’ve had, the Norwegian responded: “Two.”
“The first and the last, I think they’re stonewall,” he added. “You can’t even argue against them.”
The 48-year-old then went on to describe and explain why the two penalty-related incidents should have been awarded.
“The first one, the lad puts his foot out and Cristiano runs straight and he’s fouled,” said Solskjaer.
“The last one, Paul [Pogba] had a foul against him… Kourt Zouma, he didn’t touch him but he went over him, so why is Cristiano’s third appeal not a penalty?
“Hopefully it won’t be that Cristiano is never going to get a penalty.”
Whilst Ronaldo may have not awarded a penalty against West Ham, he has still started life back in a United shirt in spectacular fashion having now scored four goals in his first three appearances.
Related links:
- De Gea saves last-gasp penalty as Lingard clinches late winner for Man Utd at West Ham
- Wayne Rooney has sympathy with Derby staff with administration imminent
- Solskjaer hits back at Rio Ferdinand’s Ronaldo comment
