“Why Manchester United beat Norwich 1-0” – Unhappy Norwich City boss explains
Norwich City manager Dean Smith has accused Manchester United players of influencing refereeing decisions during Saturday’s Premier League game between both sides at Carrow Road.
Manchester United beat Norwich City 1-0 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty in the second half.
The decision to award Manchester United a penalty didn’t go down well with Norwich City boss Smith who believed there was contact between both players but feels United were lucky to be awarded such a ‘soft penalty’ at a crucial stage in the match.
“Yeah it was (a feeling of being aggrieved),” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve seen the penalty back and does he make contact with him in the box? Yes. Has he got his arm up? Yes, but I can show you five or six different challenges in the game, whether they are inside the box or outside the box which weren’t given.
“We are after consistency. There was no consistency there and I just felt it was too easy for Manchester United to referee the game today. Marcus Rashford gave himself a free-kick in the first-half.
“For me there was a build-up during the game. You can’t have players refereeing the game and it felt like it was. I am going to sound a sore loser, and yes, I am! I don’t think our performance deserved to lose the game today and there were some questionable decisions out there.”
When asked if Aarons was at all at fault for the penalty being awarded, Smith defended the Norwich player for his attempts to subdue Ronaldo.
He added: “Max has got to make contact with Ronaldo as the cross is coming in otherwise he gets one of his leaps and gets miles above you. He has made contact with him, was it enough to make him fall backwards? I don’t think so. It is a soft penalty but there were soft moments throughout the game.”