Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick reveals discussion with referee regarding Bruno Fernandes challenge in Leeds United clash
Speaking after his side’s 4-2 win over Leeds United last night (h/t Manchester Evening News), Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick revealed what the referee told him regarding a heavy challenge on Bruno Fernandes, which eventually led to Leeds’ equaliser at the time.
United went into the break content with two goals in the bag, but suffered immediately in the second half. Marcelo Bielsa rang in the changes at half-time to pull the Red Devils level on goals, as Rodrigo and Raphinha scored twice in under a minute soon after the restart.
Fernandes went to ground after what seemed like a rough tackle on him in the build-up to Leeds’ equaliser, and Rangnick said that he felt like it was a foul that should have been given. Given the manager’s vast experience in the Bundesliga, he felt that such a challenge would not have stood in Germany.
“For me, as somebody coming from Germany, there were quite a few tackles that in Germany there would’ve been no discussion whatsoever.”
Luckily for the Red Devils, the challenge on Fernandes did not prove to be much of a debating point as the Portuguese midfielder then kicked off the move that led to the Manchester club’s third goal, before he assisted Anthony Elanga to bury home the away side’s fourth goal to put the game to rest.
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Although referee Paul Tierney did not award United a free kick for the contact on Fernandes, the goal was reviewed by VAR Chris Kavanagh once again. After taking a closer look at the incident, the referees stuck to their initial decision, and Leeds’ equaliser was upheld.
Rangnick said he spoke to Tierney regarding the decision, but the referee waved off his claims by saying that such decisions were much harder to call a foul even with VAR in England, unlike in Germany.
“I spoke to the referee after the game about that tackle on Bruno before they scored the equaliser and I said, ‘listen, in Germany, they wouldn’t have even asked VAR’ and the referee said to me, quite funnily, ‘listen, this is probably why you had to come to England’.”
The Premier League is known to be one of the most physical leagues in the world, along with fast-paced action. These traits were on full display against Leeds United last night, with heavy tackles flying in left and right and end-to-end action in the game.
Luckily for Man United, the tackle on Fernandes did not injure the player. The Portugal international is one of the club’s most influential midfielders, and the Manchester club will surely suffer without having the player in their squad.
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United’s attention turns now to yet another fixture with rough tackles and physicality expected, coming up against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Diego Simeone’s men have a reputation for being a defensive and physical team in Spain, with these qualities helping them win the La Liga title last season.
The Red Devils will surely be up to the test given that they regularly play in a league where you need to be quick and strong. We can look forward to a cracker of a game midweek, and hope that Man United kick on from their Leeds win and come up trumps against Atletico as well.
