Harry Maguire admits Manchester United should NOT have had a penalty against Everton after Jordan Pickford kicked the Red Devils captain… as defender concedes that he PUSHED the England No 1 in the build up to foul
- Harry Maguire has admitted that Man United were not harshly denied a penalty
- The United captain was kicked by Jordan Pickford in the 3-1 win over Everton
- Michael Oliver opted not to award a spot kick, much to the bemusement of fans
- Maguire says that a penalty would have been soft as he pushed the star
Harry Maguire has admitted that Manchester United were not harshly denied a penalty following a challenge by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford on the Red Devils captain.
United left Goodison Park with all three points as a Bruno Fernandes brace and a late Edinson Cavani strike offered under-pressure boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a reprieve as they won 3-1.
But the scoreline could have been more favourable for the Red Devils, with the visitors denied a spot kick after a coming together between the Everton stopper and United captain in the second half.
Harry Maguire has admitted that Man United should not have had a penalty against Everton
The United captain was brought down by a kick from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford
Pickford spilled the ball from a cross into the path of Maguire, and the defender got in front of his opponent as he tried to steer the bouncing ball goalwards.
The England No 1 then appeared to swing his leg into the body of the United captain, causing him to fall to the Goodison Park turf. Referee Michael Oliver, though, saw no infringement and play continued.
And Maguire has insisted that he felt the decision was just, defending the under-fire goalkeeper who caught headlines last month for a challenge that has sidelined Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.
The Everton stopper has been in the spotlight after causing an injury to Virgil van Dijk
‘I just explained this in there, I personally don’t think it was [a penalty],’ Maguire told the club’s official website. ‘I think maybe I fouled Jordan first. I did put a hand into his chest when he went to catch the ball and I did feel contact on my knee.
‘I felt like I probably pushed Jordan before and I know everyone’s probably trying to jump on him dropping the ball but I did feel like I pushed him. I’d say [a penalty] would have been a little bit soft.’
The latest victory eases the huge pressure on Solskjaer, whose position in the dugout has been called into question following defeats to Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir.
However, Maguire says a penalty would have been ‘soft’ as he gave his opinion on the incident
The defender said he pushed Pickford in the build up and a penalty would have been harsh
Maguire hopes that his side have turned a corner following the 3-1 win against the Toffees.
‘Sometimes it’s difficult for the lads but today we reacted really well to two poor results,’ he added. ‘We felt like we were on the right track after [the 5-0 win versus] Leipzig but we felt like we let ourselves down against Arsenal. On another day, Arsenal could have been a different result.
‘It was a tight, edgy game, but we don’t want it to be tight and edgy when we’re playing at Old Trafford. We want to dominate the game. We gave them a soft goal and they went on to win the game.
‘In the week [against Istanbul Basaksehir] we again gave them a soft goal to take the lead and we found it hard to create chances to come back.
‘We knew it was an important game to come here and get three points. The boys reacted really well but as we know it’s only a start.’
