The former Manchester United boss was once accused by Marcus Rashford of effectively helping his players ‘win’ penalties by telling the squad to be more “savvy” in the penalty area.
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Current Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is currently locked in a public war of words with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp over the rate in which the Red Devils are awarded penalties.
Solskjaer clearly feels aggrieved over the fact that his side were not awarded a penalty in either of their recent games against West Ham and suggested that comments made by Klopp last term may be a contributing factor.
Speaking last January, Klopp said: “We cannot change. I hear now that Man United had more penalties in two years than I had in five-and-a-half years.
“I’ve no idea if that’s my fault, or how that can happen.”
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Comments made by Marcus Rashford seemed to suggest that United, under the guidance of Solskjaer’s predecessor Jose Mourinho, were taught to be more savvy when it comes to winning spot-kicks.
The England international and United star told the FWA : “I remember when Jose was manager, there were five or six times I can remember where I should have had a penalty.
“Jose ended up saying to me, “if you are not savvy about the way you do it, then you are not going to give it”. After that, we started to get a few penalties. It was something that in terms of development you have to learn that and understand it.”
Talking to the media ahead of United’s clash with Aston Villa, Solskjaer indirectly addressed Klopp as he claimed: “We just have to hope we get what we deserve, we should have had three pens in the last two games, there was a certain manager who worried about us getting pens last year and after that the decisions were different to give.
“I’ve seen a big difference since then on. You just have to leave it to the refs and hope they make the right calls very soon.”
Last season saw United awarded 11 penalties, just five of which came after Klopp’s outburst – but things are drastically different this term, as Liverpool have been handed two spot-kicks to United’s zero.
Solskjaer was appointed as United boss in December of 2018 – in that time, his side have been given 49 penalties to Liverpool’s 22 in all competitions.
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