PHELAN: UNITED STARS CAN WIN EVERYTHING
Striker slams FA for not banning Mings over horror stamp
NELSON OLIVEIRA has blasted the FA for failing to punish Tyrone Mings over the horrific face stamp he says could have blinded him.
The Reading striker suffered five deep gashes and his nose was broken in four places after being trampled on by Mings (right) in the
0-0 draw with Aston Villa last Saturday.
But under FA rules, Bournemouth loanee Mings cannot be banned retrospectively because referee Geoff Eltringham saw the incident and took MANCHESTER UNITED coach Mike Phelan believes the current squad can win “everything” – if they reach their full potential.
United are the Premier League form team under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, winning seven and no action. Speaking yesterday, the Portugal star said: “I’m not saying he did it on purpose, but he could have avoided me 100 per cent.
“He texted me to apologise. At the time I hadn’t seen the video. Football is an aggressive game, but that is not football. “It could have been much worse – I could be blind.
“I am not criticising the referee because it’s not my job. It’s up to the FA to look at these things.
“If the same thing happened to Harry Kane, what would happen? How would the FA look at it when his career could have been over?
“It’s a question to ask. If this happens in Portugal they would look at it again. You see UFC fighters come off looking better than me.”
Mings was suspended for five games in 2017 for stamping on then Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s head.
Oliveira added: “In the last two years he’s stamped on the head of two players. The FA need to look at that. I know there are FA rules, but sometimes things are bigger than that.”
He is being fitted with a drawing one of his eight league games in charge, and victorious in two FA Cup ties.
Phelan, who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s No.2, is convinced the current squad can take the Reds back to the top.
Although the title is beyond United this season, Phelan (right, with Solskjaer) face mask, but is unlikely to play in Reading’s game at Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow. Villa boss Norwich Leeds Sheff Utd West Brom Middlesbro Bristol City Derby Birmingham Aston Villa Hull Blackburn N Forest Swansea QPR Stoke Sheff Wed Brentford Preston Wigan Millwall Rotherham Reading Bolton Ipswich said: “Our aim is to try to push the players even further.
“They’ve won some things, but they haven’t won everything – and I want them to win everything. Why shouldn’t we?
“What is important is that we make sure we only bring in quality and personality, A Pts 39 57 34 57 31 54 38 50 22 50 29 47 35 47 36 43 46 43 38 43 46 43 35 42 37 41 41 39 39 38 45 38 41 37 45 37 45 32 44 30 48 26 44 25 45 23 51 18 P W D L F 30 16 9 5 57 30 17 6 7 50 30 16 6 8 50 29 14 8 7 59 29 13 11 5 34 29 13 8 8 37 29 13 8 8 40 30 10 13 7 45 30 10 13 7 53 30 12 7 11 43 30 11 10 9 42 30 10 12 8 42 30 11 8 11 40 29 11 6 12 35 30 9 11 10 33 29 10 8 11 34 29 9 10 10 48 30 9 10 11 45 30 9 5 16 31 29 7 9 13 34 30 5 11 14 28 30 5 10 15 32 30 5 8 17 19 30 3 9 18 23 Dean Smith defended Mings. He said: “People look at the picture of his face after and think, ‘I must have a look at that incident’. They slow it down and freeze-frame it. “Any incident in a football game, I could do the same and show you potential accidents. “It felt to me like it became a bit of a witchhunt for somebody who was assumed to have stamped before. “But for me this was a total accident. I’m absolutely convinced. Their bench didn’t appeal, none of their players appealed, the fans didn’t know what happened.’’ the charismatic sort that can enhance what is already here. Winning is there, it’s got to be – the size of the football club demands that.”
Prior to the Reds’ clash at Fulham tomorrow lunchtime, Phelan, talking to United Review, added: “We’re trying to build something.”