Football

Solskjaer refuses to blame blunder keeper Romero as Man Utd boss instead points finger at ‘light’ ball after Brugge draw


SERGIO ROMERO blundered in Bruges as Manchester United salvaged a Europa League draw – but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed the matchball instead.

United’s keeper came haring out of his box to meet a Simon Mignolet goalkick but misjudged the situation, allowing Emmanuel Dennis to lob into an empty net.

 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer launched a bizarre attack on the matchball after Man United's draw with Club Brugge

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer launched a bizarre attack on the matchball after Man United’s draw with Club BruggeCredit: EPA
 Sergio Romero was left red-faced after the hosts took the lead against the Red Devils

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Sergio Romero was left red-faced after the hosts took the lead against the Red DevilsCredit: Getty Images

And Club Brugge boss Philippe Clement reckoned Romero was lucky to be on the pitch after his second-minute studs-up challenge on Brandon Mechele went unpunished.

Clement rapped: “It’s a clear penalty. If you go with two feet forward against the leg of somebody it’s a red card.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not directly blame Romero for the goal but said his team switched off.

The Red Devils boss said: “They were strange goals for both teams.

“Their throw-in led to ours and a long kick straight through the middle for theirs. It was a lack of concentration from both teams.”

He then bizarrely claimed the ball had also failed to help his side.

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Solskjaer added: “It’s just different and difficult to play with. You can get one and try! It’s light.

“But it’s the same for the two teams, of course. But the conditions weren’t nice, the wind and the rain.

“But anyway, strange goals for both teams. Their throw-in we scored from and a long kick straight through the middle, so lack of concentration probably from both teams there.

“We needed to make everyone part of the squad (so I made changes), gave them games.

“We’ve got so many games now, so we got an away goal, we got a draw. We go home next week so hopefully we can finish the job.”

Anthony Martial struck to cancel out Dennis’ 15th-minute opener and hand United a slight advantage for the return leg at Old Trafford next Thursday.

But Solskjaer admitted it was a poor match.


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He said: “I don’t think it was one of the best games, a bit sloppy concentration-wise, and the conditions with the pitch and ball make conditions hard.

“There were moments where we switched off.

“We were not really at the races to start with but we got the away goal so we are looking forward to next week.”

Former Liverpool flop Mignolet, 31, said: “I didn’t know it had been five years since a goalkeeper gave an assist in the Europa League. It’s funny to be the next one.

“I saw Dennis going and I just took the opportunity to send him to the goal. Luckily he finished it.

“I’m really looking forward to going back to Old Trafford next week.”

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