Manchester City Defender Akanji Says Rashford Was ‘Clearly Offside’
Manchester City and Swiss international defender Manuel Akanji said Marcus Rashford was “clearly offside” as he was interfering with play in the lead-up to Manchester United’s equaliser in their Premier League match on Saturday.
City defenders tracked Rashford’s run from an offside position as he chased the ball for 30 metres, before Bruno Fernandes stepped in at the last second to score.
The linesman raised his flag for offside but referee Stuart Attwell awarded the goal, allowing United to mount a comeback and claim a famous 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
“Fernandes tells him he’s not in an offside position and he can shoot. That’s when he stopped and for me it’s a clear interference,” Akanji said in an interview.
“I understand he didn’t touch the ball. But what I always thought the rule was if you chase the ball and your intention is to play the ball, it’s clearly offside, but the ref decided it’s not.”
United’s Luke Shaw said in an interview that the City defender covering Rashford was not able to reach the ball.
“Rashy obviously made the run but I think the player that was with him, I don’t think was going to be able to get the ball anyway,” Shaw said. “I don’t think he actually did interfere at all.”
“I think Rashy was clever to know that Bruno was there and leave the ball. For me, it was a goal.”
Manchester United are in third place, one (1) point behind Manchester City on the Premier League table. Table topping Arsenal will play Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday and could go eight (8) points clear with a victory.
Reuters/Chidi Nwoke.
