Paul Pogba’s challenge on Ruben Neves in build-up to Man Utd’s matchwinner against Wolves was ‘leg-breaker’ says Souness
Sponsored by
GRAEME SOUNESS slammed Paul Pogba's unpunished "leg breaker" lunge on Ruben Neves in the build-up to Manchester United's winner against Wolves.
Pogba's studs crashed into Neves' shin but ref Mike Dean waved play on and Mason Greenwood cracked a late clincher against the unlucky hosts at Molineux.
But as United celebrated setting a Prem record of 28 away games in a row without defeat, Souness laid into Pogba and Dean.
He told Sky Sports: "That's a leg-breaker. Anyone who's ever played the game will tell you that's a dangerous challenge."
Furious Neves said: "Everyone saw my leg. We always do meetings and everything about refs and VAR and I don't know why.
"They say before the season they will look for contact and if the contact is strong enough they will give the foul. I show my leg and it is just their decision.
"Maybe before last game because it was a foul before the Southampton goal, maybe now they do the opposite."
Dumbfounded Souey was astonished Dean failed to intervene as the official was barely two metres away, with a clear view of the incident.
He added: "It's a foul. Paul Pogba doesn't make any contact with the ball whatsoever.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Most read in Football
United got lucky... Pogba was reckless, says Halsey
By Mark Halsey
MANCHESTER UNITED were fortunate not to concede a foul in the build up to Mason Greenwood’s winner.
When I first saw it, I thought it was a reckless challenge by Paul Pogba.
He hasn’t got the ball, his foot has gone over the top of it and he has caught Ruben Neves on the shin pad.
Referee Mike Dean is in an excellent position but he has just not recognised the reckless challenge by Pogba.
Is it clear and obvious or subjective? VAR viewed it as the latter.
Already this season we have seen inconsistency with fouls leading up to goals.
United were unfortunate last week not to get a free-kick leading up to Southampton’s equaliser.
But this week Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were the beneficiaries of a possible foul in the lead up to a goal being scored.
"He makes contact with the shin, the shinguard.
"Watch how high Paul Pogba's foot is here, and look at the referee's position - he just doesn't see it!
"They've got away with one."
Even ex-Manchester United hardman Roy Keane agreed, admitting Pogba was "off his feet" and "out of control" when his tackle sent Neves' shinpads spinning inside his socks.
Keane added: "I think it's a foul but I think Neves is almost too honest.
'CLEAR FOUL'
"If he goes down straight away from the tackle I think he (the ref) would give the free-kick. But... he's delayed his reaction."
"If he'd given the free-kick i don't think one United player would have complained."
But Neves insisted the only reason he did not respond instantly to the tackle was that he was focused on following the action.
The Portugal midfielder told Sky: "Delay... of course. I delayed because I did not know where the ball was going.
"If the ball stays there I need to react but because the ball goes away I go down. I was the one who touched the ball. It is a clear foul, there is nothing more to say. "
⚽ Read our Transfer news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals