United feel robbed as Terry gets his redemption

It looks like that Sir Alex Ferguson has landed himself in trouble with the English FA, after his comments on Martin Atkinson, the referee of last night’s game between Chelsea and Manchester United. He commented that after games like these, players lose their faith on the referee. We know that comments from Fergie on referees’ performances in games involving his team is not rare, but this time for a change, he had a point.

Alex freguson frustrated with the refree

You’d expect the referee to be strong in such a game of high stakes, and Martin Atkinson was not anywhere close to being termed “strong”. All the 50-50 calls were in favor of the home side and this is what angered Ferguson and his men. John Terry’s tackle on Valencia inside the box at the 14 minute mark was a clear example of this. Terry was clearly tugging Valencia’s shirt and it happened right in front of the assistant referee. Wayne Rooney was incorrectly marked offside when he was one on one with Cech and if one these decisions had been called correctly, we would’ve witnessed a different type of game altogether.

However, the worst of all the decisions was reserved till the 75^th minute when a free kick was awarded to Chelsea some 30 yards from the box. Fletcher is no saint and is a heel snapper, but he clearly got the ball from Ashley Cole who tumbled to the floor as if his legs were hacked. The resulting free kick found the head of John Terry who turned it goalwards. However, replays showed that Didier Drogba who had come from an offside position appeared to have pulled Wes Brown, who if he had stayed up would have cleared the goal bound ball.

United were good yesterday and must have a feeling of having been robbed of at least a well earned point. They were very well organized, with Brown and Evans immaculate in the center of defense. Anderson playing in support of Rooney was a surprise, but this was the role that he excelled in during his time at Porto. Though he came forward in support when United attacked, there were occasions where he looked as if he was playing as a sweeper in front of the midfield than as a supporting striker or an attacking midfielder.

Chelsea, on the other hand, must be ecstatic with the result and will go about consolidating their lead before January, when they will lose 4 players to the African Cup of Nations. Terry, in particular, was over the top after the goal, and should feel a sense of redemption for his famed and well advertised slip in Moscow.

United should move on now and concentrate on their upcoming games. The qualification to the next round of the Champions league should ease the pressure during the midweek games and will allow Ferguson to rest his first team for the Premiership games. The league is not yet out of their hands as they’ve come from far worse positions to win the league. But the question that is beginning to form in the mind of every United supporter is whether Chelsea or Arsenal will slip up.