Patrick Vieira says Manchester
United get helping hand from referees
• 'When United play at home they
get some advantage'
• City angered by interview with
BBC and ban reporter
29 March 2012
Patrick Vieira has claimed that
Manchester United have been helped to the top of the Premier League because of
a culture of generous refereeing at Old Trafford.
Vieira, an old foe of United now
working as City's football development executive, was answering questions about
Fulham not being awarded an 89th-minute penalty in the 1-0 win for United on
Monday that took Sir Alex Ferguson's team three points clear of City with eight
games to go. The Frenchman was initially reluctant to enter the debate,
pointing out that he did not want to say anything that could be construed as
criticism of United, but then went on to admit he did believe United received
preferential treatment.
"When United play at home
they get some advantage that other teams don't get," Vieira said. "I
think when you go to United, Madrid, Barcelona or Milan, when the referees
referee these kind of games, it's always difficult to go against these kind of
teams.
"This is the way it is. It's
something the teams who are used to winning get all the time. We need to win
games so we have this advantage in the future."
Vieira's comments initiated an
indignant response from Rio Ferdinand, with the United defender posting his
response, in his inimitable style, on Twitter: "Why is Vieira so concerned
with Man Utd....2 comments in a week or so....c'mon maaaaaan let it go."
However, Vieira later did his
best to dilute a potential row, with Ferguson due to hold his press conference
on Friday, by claiming his comments had been "completely taken out of
context" in the way the BBC had presented his interview. The former
Arsenal player was unhappy that his comments about not wanting to criticise
United and having not seen the Fulham match were not initially used. City have
subsequently banned the BBC reporter who spoke to Vieira, though there is no
argument about what he said of the different refereeing standards he believes
are applied.
Those comments are unlikely to go
down well at Old Trafford, where they point out that only West Bromwich Albion
have conceded more penalties at home this season in the top division. Ferguson
had warned last week he had "plenty of ammunition" if City wanted to
criticise the champions and may respond by pointing out some of the refereeing
decisions that have gone in favour of Roberto Mancini's team recently.
Gareth Barry could have conceded
a penalty against Stoke City last weekend and Mario Balotelli's stamp on Scott
Parker was missed before the Italian striker scored the winner against
Tottenham Hotspur in January.
City's belief is that they have
been on the wrong end of some poor decisions. Brian Marwood, the club's
football administrator, has already made this point to the Professional Game
Match Officials and the club were dismayed when Michael Oliver, the Premier
League's youngest referee, failed to award Fulham a penalty after Michael
Carrick had brought down Danny Murphy on Monday.
Vieira had also claimed last week
that United had demonstrated "a little bit of weakness" bringing Paul
Scholes out of retirement, leading to a counter-allegation from Ferguson that
City had shown the greater "desperation" by recalling Carlos Tevez
despite him "taking a five-month holiday in Argentina."
Mancini had previously said Tevez
was "finished" at the club, but Vieira told the BBC in the same
interview he was happy the player and manager had called a truce. "We're
glad Carlos is back. The quality of these kind of players will be really
important at this stage of the season. The issue was between him and the club.
The players were really pleased to see him back."
Vieira also said City had been
"the best team and played the best football". He conceded that United
were in the best position – "When you are first you have the advantage,
they are favourites" – but the sides meet at the Etihad Stadium on 30
April for a potential title decider and Vieira believes there may be one last
twist. "This is our moment. I believe the club deserves it."
Actually it was not quite surprising when Man City, the only one, kept whining about Fulham not being awarded an 89th-minute penalty in the 1-0 win for United. The Fulham seemed to accept it but not Man City. Again it was easy to understand why all the reactions were all about. If they played best football and they are better team they should not try to bother other teams. They should concentrate on their game by winning their games. So no matter what happen in other games they should not been bother. They were on top for a long time and enjoying the best season. Suddenly they were losing points and Man United got back in title chasing. Nerves conquering their mind with pressure mounting. They are cracking.
Now not truth to themselves, they tried to look for excuses. They got one when Fulham was denied a penalty. They made a lot of fuss. This is kid attitude no gentleman at all. The blame should on them. They were losing points not because of Man United. The points were lost because they unable to secure all three points. Man United already look out of contender in the New Year. They lost to Blackburn and Newcastle. But they were not pointing fingers to other team.
This was said by Sir Alex Ferguson after 3-0 defeat at Newcastle, “It is advantage Manchester City, of course,” Ferguson said.
“We had an opportunity, they played last night, we played tonight, they won
theirs, we lost ours, so it is advantage to them now.’
He added, “We’re not panicking or anything, we’ve got the
experience to cope with that. Losing the game, you don’t want it, but sometimes
it happens and you have seen some of the results in the league recently. But
obviously we need to get the show on the road in terms of the run in.”
He also did not criticize his player his players but went on
praising his opponent. He said that “They scored a fantastic goal and that got
them up and gave their support a lift. They were really aggressive against us.
The first goal was a magnificent volley and the second was the killer, a marvelous
strike from a free kick.”
So Man City just concentrated on your games.
