It’s wrestle mania as Harry is saved from VAR KO blow
Cesar: Why didn’t the ref take 20 seconds to check WWE move? MAN UNITED........ CHELSEA.........
Cesar Azpilicueta last night blasted the ref’s reluctance to use VAR after Chelsea were denied a penalty.
The Blues captain was grappled by Harry Maguire in the box – and couldn’t believe the WWE act did not result in a critical penalty kick.
It was the main flashpoint in a drab stalemate – and once again put VAR under the spotlight.
Edinson Cavani made his debut for United – but ref Martin Atkinson was the man everyone was talking about.
Azpilicueta said: “I felt both arms around my neck and shoulders.
“Atkinson is the man to make the decisions, so why not take 20 seconds to review it? VAR is there to help.
“I’m not saying every time there is contact there should be a penalty. But we should always seek improvement.
“It is not a criticism, we can all help together to make a better league.”
The ref and VAR also missed a first- half swipe by Bruno Fernandes at Jorginho – and
Blues boss Frank Lampard also felt aggrieved.
He said: “It is a clear penalty – Harry has him in a headlock. The referee gives it if he looks at the monitor.”
It has been almost 50 years since United have failed to win any of their first three home games in a league campaign – last time was back in 72-73.
But neither side deserved to win a bleak game of football served up in atrocious weather.
It took 28 minutes for the first shot but David De Gea easily saved Reece James’ free-kick.
Blues keeper Edouard Mendy at least gave viewers a comic moment when he almost passed into his own net.
De Gea saved from Christian Pulisic and Mendy was in action, saving from Marcus
Rashford then Juan Mata.
Then came Maguire’s crazy wrestling act – but United got away with it to end the first-half on level terms.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer threw on Paul Pogba and Cavani in a bid to break the deadlock.
The Uruguayan almost made an instant impact with a flick from a Fernandes cross that hit the side netting.
Lampard’s side looked most likely to grab the winner though – and it would have been an injustice if Rashford’s late effort had beaten Mendy.
Lampard added: “It’s not a beautiful feeling in the dressing room – we want to be better going forward – but the clean sheet is good.”