Use Elbow Again, Scholes Said Fellaini Confuse
Use Elbow Again, Scholes Said Fellaini Confuse
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LONDON - This Belgian players perhaps lucky to have been available for selection on Thursday, and Marouane Fellaini's on field actions have come under scrutiny once more. The Manchester United midfielder is known to be an aerial threat to opposition markers but the big Belgian is carving out a reputation for dangerous play with his elbows too.
That was the case once more during the Red Devils' Europa League exit at the hands of their bitter rivals Liverpool. At that match, Liverpool knocked Manchester United out of the Europa League last-16.
Marouane Fellaini protests his innocence after elbowing Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren in the second half. The incident occurred on 49 minutes after the pair challenged for an aerial ball at Old Trafford on Thursday
The Manchester United midfielder was promptly booked after the incident by referee, Milorad Mazic
Marouane Fellaini should have been sent off and Manchester United reduced to 10 men for elbowing Liverpool's Dejan Lovren.
The incident was seen by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic, who cautioned the Belgian which will again allow Fellaini to escape further sanction by video. Fellaini keeps getting away with this dangerous act after not being charged when elbowing Emre Can in the first leg.
In the 49th minute of the Old Trafford contest, the 28 year old received a yellow card from referee Milorad Mazic for a stray elbow around the back of Dejan Lovren's head as the pair jostled for position.
Lovren was incensed by the challenge from Fellaini, which wasn't his first of the night. Roberto Firmino was aggrieved with the midfielder too after he was caught with an elbow during the first half.
Both incidents led to Gary Lineker tweeting about Fellaini's behaviour.
"I have never ever seen a player use his elbows as much as Fellaini," said Lineker as he posted on social media on Thursday night.
Former legend Manchester United, Paul Scholes was withering in his assessment of the big Belgian. He once again came under fire for catching the Liverpool pair in the face with his arm.
"I know from experience of playing against him. He’s just so clumsy with elbows all over. He’s probably part of the confusion with United when he plays," Scholes told BT Sport.
Fellaini was deemed free to play in the return leg after dodging a ban for appearing to elbow Emre Can at Anfield.
Television cameras picked up the Belgium international seemingly swinging a forearm into his German opponent's neck in the final moments of the Reds' 2-0 first-leg victory at Anfield.
The incident was missed by Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo but Fellaini was left to sweat over retrospective action by UEFA.
But match officials did not mention the incident in their report so European football's governing body let Fellaini off the hook. That meant the midfielder was available to help United's attempts to come back from the dead against their old rivals at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Can felt the pain of Fellaini's off the ball challenge which the referee missed but still defended his rival. Despite the ugly evidence picked up by the cameras, after the first leg Can played down the apparent elbow from Fellaini.
"It was just a small fight. It was okay. It was not a boxing ring punch. Fellaini is a fair sportsman. He touched my throat with his elbow but it is okay," said the German midfielder.
And it was Can, who had the last laugh as Liverpool prevailed 3-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter finals.
Anthony Martial gave United hope in the second leg from the penalty spot but a sublime Philippe Coutinho goal on the stroke of half time put the tie beyond little doubt for the visitors.
Liverpool will face one of Anderlecht, Athletic Bilbao, Braga, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sparta Prague or Villarreal in the next round of the Europa League.
That was the case once more during the Red Devils' Europa League exit at the hands of their bitter rivals Liverpool. At that match, Liverpool knocked Manchester United out of the Europa League last-16.
Marouane Fellaini protests his innocence after elbowing Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren in the second half. The incident occurred on 49 minutes after the pair challenged for an aerial ball at Old Trafford on Thursday
The Manchester United midfielder was promptly booked after the incident by referee, Milorad Mazic
Marouane Fellaini should have been sent off and Manchester United reduced to 10 men for elbowing Liverpool's Dejan Lovren.
The incident was seen by Serbian referee Milorad Mazic, who cautioned the Belgian which will again allow Fellaini to escape further sanction by video. Fellaini keeps getting away with this dangerous act after not being charged when elbowing Emre Can in the first leg.
In the 49th minute of the Old Trafford contest, the 28 year old received a yellow card from referee Milorad Mazic for a stray elbow around the back of Dejan Lovren's head as the pair jostled for position.
Lovren was incensed by the challenge from Fellaini, which wasn't his first of the night. Roberto Firmino was aggrieved with the midfielder too after he was caught with an elbow during the first half.
Both incidents led to Gary Lineker tweeting about Fellaini's behaviour.
"I have never ever seen a player use his elbows as much as Fellaini," said Lineker as he posted on social media on Thursday night.
Former legend Manchester United, Paul Scholes was withering in his assessment of the big Belgian. He once again came under fire for catching the Liverpool pair in the face with his arm.
"I know from experience of playing against him. He’s just so clumsy with elbows all over. He’s probably part of the confusion with United when he plays," Scholes told BT Sport.
Fellaini was deemed free to play in the return leg after dodging a ban for appearing to elbow Emre Can at Anfield.
Television cameras picked up the Belgium international seemingly swinging a forearm into his German opponent's neck in the final moments of the Reds' 2-0 first-leg victory at Anfield.
The incident was missed by Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo but Fellaini was left to sweat over retrospective action by UEFA.
But match officials did not mention the incident in their report so European football's governing body let Fellaini off the hook. That meant the midfielder was available to help United's attempts to come back from the dead against their old rivals at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Can felt the pain of Fellaini's off the ball challenge which the referee missed but still defended his rival. Despite the ugly evidence picked up by the cameras, after the first leg Can played down the apparent elbow from Fellaini.
"It was just a small fight. It was okay. It was not a boxing ring punch. Fellaini is a fair sportsman. He touched my throat with his elbow but it is okay," said the German midfielder.
And it was Can, who had the last laugh as Liverpool prevailed 3-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter finals.
Anthony Martial gave United hope in the second leg from the penalty spot but a sublime Philippe Coutinho goal on the stroke of half time put the tie beyond little doubt for the visitors.
Liverpool will face one of Anderlecht, Athletic Bilbao, Braga, Sevilla, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sparta Prague or Villarreal in the next round of the Europa League.
(rnz)
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