DIRTY HARRY!
Scorer Maguire should have been sent off, rages Frank
FRANK LAMPARD was left fuming last night after two controversial VAR decisions consigned Chelsea to a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United.
Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire scored to lift United’s Champions League qualification hopes as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side moved to within three points of the fourth-placed Blues.
But Maguire was lucky to escape a red card in the first half after he kicked out at Michy Batshuayi’s groin area.
‘Harry Maguire should have been sent off, that’s clear, and that obviously changes the game,’ said Lampard, whose side also had an equaliser from
Kurt Zouma ruled out by VAR for what looked a debatable foul by Cesar Azpilicueta on Brandon Williams. ‘Azpilicueta gets shoved, so the goal should stand,’ said Lampard, of what looked like an initial offence by United’s Fred. ‘I don’t get why the referees aren’t looking at the pitchside monitor. It should be used.’ To make matters worse for Chelsea, substitute Olivier Giroud also had a headed goal chalked off by VAR for a marginal offside.
Maguire insisted he did not deliberately lash out at Batshuayi, saying: ‘I knew I caught him, I thought he was going to fall on me. The natural reaction was to try to hold him up. It wasn’t a kick out, no intent. I did catch him but it’s the right decision in the end. I didn’t have any intent to hurt him. I apologised.’ Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante was forced off in the first half. ‘It’s an adductor injury,’ said Lampard. ‘It doesn’t look great.’
Solskjaer refused to be drawn on the latest rant by Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola, who suggested this week that his client wants to rejoin Juventus.