Gary Neville hit out at Manchester United’s penalty-taking policy after Paul Pogba missed from the spot in the 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Pogba won the penalty, drawing a foul from Wolves captain Conor Coady, but saw his spot-kick was saved by goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
It was Pogba’s fourth miss from the spot since the start of last season. No Premier League player has missed more than him in that time.
The decision for Pogba to take the penalty was all the more questionable given Marcus Rashford’s successful spot-kick against Chelsea last weekend.
Rashford, who has never missed a penalty in his career, was chosen ahead of Pogba at Old Trafford last week but was overlooked on this occasion.
1/22 Rui Patricio – 7
REUTERS
2/22 Matt Doherty – 5
Action Images via Reuters
3/22 Ryan Bennett – 4
REUTERS
4/22 Conor Coady – 5
AFP/Getty Images
5/22 Willy Boly – 6
AFP/Getty Images
6/22 Jonny Otto – 6
Getty Images
7/22 Leander Dendoncker – 6
Getty Images
8/22 Ruben Neves – 8
Action Images via Reuters
9/22 Joao Moutinho – 6
AP
10/22 Diogo Jota – 6
Getty Images
11/22 Raul Jimenez – 7
EPA
12/22 David De Gea – 6
Getty Images
13/22 Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7
Getty Images
14/22 Harry Maguire – 6
EPA
15/22 Victor Lindelof – 6
AP
16/22 Luke Shaw – 6
AP
17/22 Scott McTominay – 6
Getty Images
18/22 Paul Pogba – 6
REUTERS
19/22 Daniel James – 6
AFP/Getty Images
20/22 Jesse Lingard – 6
AFP/Getty Images
21/22 Marcus Rashford – 7
Getty Images
22/22 Anthony Martial – 7
Getty Images
1/22 Rui Patricio – 7
REUTERS
2/22 Matt Doherty – 5
Action Images via Reuters
3/22 Ryan Bennett – 4
REUTERS
4/22 Conor Coady – 5
AFP/Getty Images
5/22 Willy Boly – 6
AFP/Getty Images
6/22 Jonny Otto – 6
Getty Images
7/22 Leander Dendoncker – 6
Getty Images
8/22 Ruben Neves – 8
Action Images via Reuters
9/22 Joao Moutinho – 6
AP
10/22 Diogo Jota – 6
Getty Images
11/22 Raul Jimenez – 7
EPA
12/22 David De Gea – 6
Getty Images
13/22 Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7
Getty Images
14/22 Harry Maguire – 6
EPA
15/22 Victor Lindelof – 6
AP
16/22 Luke Shaw – 6
AP
17/22 Scott McTominay – 6
Getty Images
18/22 Paul Pogba – 6
REUTERS
19/22 Daniel James – 6
AFP/Getty Images
20/22 Jesse Lingard – 6
AFP/Getty Images
21/22 Marcus Rashford – 7
Getty Images
22/22 Anthony Martial – 7
Getty Images
Solskjaer revealed that he does not designate a single penalty taker, instead trusting his players to step forward if they feel confident enough to score.
Appearing on Sky Sports, former United full-back Neville criticised the policy, comparing the uncertainty to a ‘tombola’.
“Tonight there was a debate between [Anthony] Martial, [Daniel] James, Rashford and Pogba,” he said. “It was more like: “Go on mate you have it”.
“This is not right, by the way. Look here comes Paul Pogba, now [Jesse] Lingard is getting involved. Is Pogba the penalty taker and Rashford has taken it off him?
“I’m holding back on Pogba because he may be the penalty taker here. It isn’t right. They should decide before they play. This is not right.
“This is a Manchester United penalty. This is not tombola. This is not five a side. Rashford throws the ball to Pogba. Something is not right.
Neville added: “Why is there a debate on who takes a penalty? Pogba has missed four in the last 12 months – so you would think he’s had his chance now. Rashford scored last week, take the penalty.
“But there wasn’t a leader on the pitch. You saw the clips there, James was there, Martial, they couldn’t make a decision between them. Something is not right there.”
