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Gary Neville criticizes Man United’s wall for NOT being ‘big enough’ to stop Michael Olise’s stoppage-time equalizer, while pundit Jamie Redknapp calls the Crystal Palace star’s goal the ‘BEST free kick’ it’s from the season’
Manchester United are solely to blame after conceding a late goal in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, because their wall wasn’t “big enough” to stop Michael Olise’s stunning free-kick in time. discount.
That’s the view of Red Devils legend Gary Neville, who tweeted after the match to regret his former club’s decision to only have three men against the wall when Olise stepped in to take his stoppage-time free kick. .
Selhurst Park erupted when the Crystal Palace winger canceled out Bruno Fernandes’ opening goal in the first half with a sublime left-footed drive from the set piece, crashing off the crossbar past United goalkeeper David de Gea.
Manchester United only opted to have a three-man wall for Michael Olise’s equalizing free kick
His stoppage-time free-kick cleared the United wall and crashed off the crossbar.
The late equalizer denied Erik ten Hag’s side second place in the Premier League table, leaving the Red Devils in third place behind local rivals Manchester City on goal difference.
More importantly, United also gave up crucial ground in the title race against Arsenal, who remain eight points clear at the top of the league.
Frustrated with the Red Devils’ wall, which consisted of Casemiro, Fred and Alejandro Garnacho, Neville took to social media, writing: “That wall was never big enough.” He will always shoot.
Red Devils legend Gary Neville lamented the size of Man United’s wall after Olise equalized
He added in a follow-up tweet: ‘Take off your peeler! A massive wall with big players makes it harder for the taker! That wall lacked presence and made it look attractive!’
Meanwhile, Jamie Redknapp was keen to focus on Olise’s skill rather than Manchester United’s wall drawbacks.
The former Spurs and Liverpool star not only described the goal as a “stroke of genius” but also called it the best free kick of the campaign so far.
Olise gave only a half-hearted celebration after scoring the equalizing goal in stoppage time.
Olise, who has been known to refrain from celebrating goals in the past, showed a subdued expression after the free kick hit the crossbar.
Redknapp told Sky Sports: ‘It was the best free kick of the season.
“We have seen James Ward-Prowse, he has a catalog of these throughout the season and his career, but that is a stroke of genius.
“I just don’t understand why he hasn’t celebrated. I made a few free throws and took my shirt off, everything. I was doing love bites, everything.
“That’s as good as it gets and I’m sure he’s buzzing deep down, but what a free kick and what a timing for them.”
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp described the equalizer as the “best free kick of the season”.
“I thought from Palace’s point of view they produced a good performance for their manager and they needed it.”
Fellow pundit Glenn Murray added: “I think it deserved a celebration at least, I think it was the lowest key moment of the whole game because this free kick is absolutely sumptuous, it’s brilliant to pick it up and get past the wall and just kiss off the bar and enter.
“To be fair, De Gea was unstoppable all night, but this was unstoppable. It was something else.’