Michael Owen believes Marcus Rashford is responsible for Phil Foden’s equalizer in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
After opening the scoring with a thunderous effort from 30 yards out, Rashford was then at the center of City’s equalizer after being left indignant as Kyle Walker had fouled him moments before Foden pulled a goal back for the hosts .
City then made the most of that momentum, with Foden scoring again before Erling Haaland rounded off the points with a third goal for Pep Guardiola’s side, leaving them just one point behind leaders Liverpool.
However, the controversial moment before City’s equalizer divided opinion, with Erik ten Hag furious that the challenge on Rashford had not been given as a foul, while Gary Neville felt it was right to play on.
Former United striker Owen has sided with the argument that there was no foul on Rashford, and the striker’s lack of rush to get back into position has cost his side dearly.
Michael Owen (left) thinks Marcus Rashford (right) is responsible for Man City’s equalizer
Phil Foden scored an excellent goal to equalize for Manchester City in Sunday’s derby
Rashford falls to the ground as Kyle Walker tries to regain possession for City
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“I thought it was right that nothing was given,” Owen told Optus Sport. ‘I don’t know why Marcus Rashford tried to run over his man at the beginning, he didn’t even have control of the ball. You must first have control of the ball and make the cut over your man.
‘I felt it was called ‘spot on’. And actually he would have been back in this position (defending for the Foden goal) to potentially cut that ball out.
‘He’s been on the floor for a minute or so. Once he got back inside, that’s where his position should be, if he wasn’t on the ground before. So maybe he could have prevented that goal.’
United boss Ten Hag was particularly annoyed that his star striker had not received the foul and was subsequently shown a yellow card for his outburst in the dugout.
He told Sky Sports: ‘It’s very debatable, I think there was contact and it’s a decisive moment in the match. The 2-1 score also showed a reckless action by City’s goalkeeper.
Rashford protests and claims a free-kick before Foden scores his first goal, but Owen claims it took too long for the Man United striker to get back into position
“It was soft, but when you’re in a full sprint and you get a little tap, you lose the rhythm and that’s why he went down.”
Walker was also asked for his opinion on the matter, but unsurprisingly he played down the incident.
He said: ‘I haven’t looked at it, to be quite honest. I didn’t feel like there was much in it. I feel like I did what I normally do and crossed my arm but the referee saw it and checked it on the VAR and they just have to take it that way and we went to the other side, it’s the law of the law . it is it.’