MIRACLE IN PARIS!

give him a break la, he did played for us

he is ambassador of some club la. cant show any emotion.

PSG v Man Utd: The handball rule - what is the latest, and do you agree?

Manchester United's controversial injury-time penalty in their dramatic Champions League win over Paris St-Germain has got everyone talking about the handball rule and VAR.

Marcus Rashford thumped home the spot-kick in the 94th minute, awarded after referee Damir Skomina had initially signalled a corner after Diogo Dalot's shot struck Presnel Kimpembe and went over the crossbar.

Skomina received a signal to check the incident again for a possible handball in the box and after watching a pitchside monitor, changed his decision.

Injured PSG forward Neymar called the decision a "disgrace", asking "What can [Kimpembe] do with his hand while his back is turned?"

But what are the rules?
As it stands from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) rulebook:

Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with the hand or arm.

The following must be considered:

The movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)
The distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball)
The position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an offence
However, Head of Uefa referees Robert Rossetti told the Times in January that - when VAR was introduced into this season's Champions League - officials would penalise any unnatural arm movement that makes contact with the ball.

"The big challenge is the position of the arm. When the arm is totally out of the body above the shoulder it should be penalised. If the defender is making the body bigger in order to block the ball it is not fair.

"It is different if the defender is challenging or playing the ball and it rebounds. But if he is looking to block a cross or a shot on goal and the player is trying to spread his body then it is a handball."

What next?
At the weekend, Ifab - football's law-makers - said handball will be given against a player if their arms extend "beyond a natural silhouette" - even if it is accidental.

Ifab chief David Elleray explained: "If the arms are extended beyond that silhouette then the body is being made unnaturally bigger, with the purpose of it being a bigger barrier to the opponent or the ball.

"Players should be allowed to have their arms by their side because it's their natural silhouette."

That new interpretation will come in from 1 June - the date of the Champions League final.

SOS

MARTIAL AVAILABLE FOR ARSENAL TEST

Manchester United have been given a quadruple boost on the injury front ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Arsenal, with Anthony Martial among three players in line for a possible return to first-team duties and Eric Bailly available.

Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke to the media at the Aon Training Complex on Friday morning, and revealed Frenchman Martial could be in line to play for the first time since picking up an injury in the first leg of United’s Champions League last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain on 12 February.

The Norwegian also suggested that Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera could be involved and revealed that Bailly is okay after suffering a heavy challenge from PSG’s Marco Verratti on Wednesday evening.

“Eric's fine,” said the boss. “Anthony will be available and, hopefully, we'll have Nemanja and/or Ander ready as well, so we're looking better for it. They just need to have another couple of days' training with the team. They've done well in their recovery work.”

United also have Paul Pogba available for selection, after the midfielder missed the magnificent win in Paris due to a European suspension.

“Paul was over there training with us and in the dressing room and the meetings, so he wanted to be a part of that game,” explained Solskjaer. “It’s great that he had a couple of days off after Southampton, so it was the least he could do!”

Questioned about the fatigue that the epic win against PSG might leave in the legs of United’s players, Ole was positive, and noted Arsenal’s exertions on Thursday evening against Rennes.

“We’re alright,” stated Solskjaer. “Arsenal played 24 hours later than us and, of course, it will be tougher for them, so we’ll be ready for Sunday, definitely.”

SOS

SOLSKJAER: PSG WAS FRED'S BREAKTHROUGH FOR US

There were outstanding performances all over the pitch as Manchester United overturned a two-goal deficit against Paris Saint-Germain to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

But one Red which stood out in the heat of the important midfield battle was Fred, who arguably enjoyed his best game in a United shirt to date on a dramatic evening at the Parc des Princes.

The Brazilian, who made his 14th start of the season against PSG, has had to be patient for opportunities during his debut season at the club but stepped up when it mattered in the absence of the suspended Paul Pogba, injured Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic.

According to the statistics displayed in the new Match Centre in our Official App, Fred had a 69 per cent total influence on the game, with some effective passing in the engine room and vital defensive contributions.

On a night when the Reds were missing 10 first-team players in the French capital, our no.17 – who celebrated his 26th birthday the day before the PSG game – was also a calming influence alongside the equally impressive Andreas Pereira and Scott McTominay.

In his post-match press conference, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave credit to some of the unsung heroes who were vital to the cause – including McTominay – but singled out Fred, who he feels might have turned a corner against PSG.

“Fred and McTominay did a fantastic job screening in front of their high midfielders, putting pressure on [Marco] Verratti and Marquinhos,” Ole told reporters in Paris.


“Fred – that was probably his breakthrough for us. You can see why we’ve signed him. He’s got the mentality of a Brazilian international, he is a Brazilian international.

“He gets on the ball, has no fear and no doubt whatsoever. He used to play in that system at Shakhtar [Donetsk] so it suited him and that’s why we signed him.”

Solskjaer has repeatedly promised that Fred will receive ample opportunity to show his true worth and the South American, who so often shone on the European stage with his former club Shakhtar, certainly took his chance against PSG.

SOS

lol arsenal all in at young

we could potentially face city on all 3 fronts...

scary...

Walao juve like this also go through. Lucky we dun need face them until final

meet poo poo.....owai

huh not teams in same group stage won't face each other until final? or just happen in wc only lol

No need ballot kah?

shit barca, they always jinx us