Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has called on referees to start giving his players more protection, with the Manchester United manager believing that his side are heavily targeted by tactical fouls.
With United set to take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Tuesday, Solskjaer could be sending a message to officials before the game, as the Norwegian also complained about the antics of Pep Guardiola's side last season.
City have been notorious for their use of tactical fouls to halt opposition momentum under the management of Guardiola, with Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho one of the main culprits.
“That’s a big thing and sometimes I look at the referees and I look at our games and even if they are just little fouls there have been teams who have stopped us with those little fouls, which has stopped us showing how good we are when we attack,” he said via The Telegraph. “But I didn’t raise it [the subject of tactical fouling] this time, you did!”
Solskjaer also claimed that Welshman Daniel James is one of the players targeted the most, due to his blistering pace and ability to hurt sides on the counter-attack.
“There have been a few fouls on Dan James and I am better off not talking about it but the referees have got to look at when players with his pace, even if they just knock the ball past them, they [opponents] stop them in their tracks. Of course, it is yellow cards [that should be issued].”
United will be looking to bounce back following poor performances against Arsenal and more recently Wolves in the FA Cup third round. They will be hoping to take a lead into the second leg of their tie with City, with the second game set to take place at the Etihad Stadium.
Source : 90min