"All you have to do is give a red card" - Copenhagen boss hits out at Manchester United star for scuffing penalty spot in UCL thriller
Copenhagen manager Jacob Neestrup has called for referees to punish players with a red card after Alejandro Garnacho scuffed the penalty spot in Manchester United's 1-0 win against his side.
The Red Devils were headed towards their first UEFA Champions League win this season on Tuesday night (October 24). Harry Maguire looked to have bagged the winner with a 72nd-minute bullet header.
However, Scott McTominay gave away a penalty in the 90+5th minute but Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana became the hero. He saved former Red Devils striker Henrik Larsson's son Jordan's spot-kick to clinch all three points.
Garnacho may have played a role in Larsson's failure to convert his penalty as he was seen scuffing the spot the Swede missed from. His actions were slammed by former Arsenal midfielder Kim Kallstrom as 'childish' and 'baby-level', per The Mirror.
Copenhagen boss Neestrup has made his feelings known about the incident. He told VG (via Sport Witness):
"It is up to referees and associations to set limits. All you have to do is give a red card for something like that, then people stop doing it."
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was asked about Garnacho appearing to scuff the spot following his side's win. He said (via UtdPlug):
"I didn't see it. The referee probably didn't see it either. I don't know."
Larsson's effort was on target but Onana dived the right way and produced a superb stop. Ten Hag's side were in urgent need of a win after losing their first two Group A Champions League games against Bayern Munich (4-3) and Galatasaray (3-2).
Paul Scholes compares Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund to Premier League icon Alan Shearer
Rasmus Hojlund also played in Manchester United's 1-0 victory against Copenhagen, failing to get on the scoresheet against his former club. The 20-year-old started his career with the Danish side and is now playing for one of the biggest clubs in world football.
The young striker has shown signs of becoming Ten Hag's much-desired prolific center-forward. He got into good positions on Tuesday night and his pace and power were a nuisance for opposition defenders.
Hojlund has bagged three goals in 10 games across competitions for United at the start of his Old Trafford career. Red Devils icon Paul Scholes likened him to Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer but advised the Denmark international to decide what type of striker he is. He told TNT Sports:
"He needs to find out what kind of centre-forward he is: is he more of a Rudd Van Nistelrooy or an Alan Shearer-type player? For me, he’s more of a Shearer, where he’s going to want balls crossed into him."
Hojlund joined Manchester United from Serie A side Atalanta in the summer for £74 million. He's the most expensive U21 signing in the club's history.
However, the 2023 Golden Boy nominee still has a long way to go in reaching Shearer's level. The Magpies hero is the Premier League's all-time top scorer with 260 goals in 441 games.