Manuel Akanji has had his say on Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser against Manchester City in October 2022.
The Manchester United midfielder’s goal became the primary topic of conversation after the contest, in which Marcus Rashford scored the winner after £100m winger Jack Grealish’s opener.
Many wondered how Bruno Fernandes’ goal was not disallowed.
As Rashford, who was in an offside position was clean through on goal, instead of moving out of the way, he stood right in front of the ball for a couple of seconds.
Manuel Akanji says Bruno Fernandes’ goal against Manchester City last season was the “worst goal” he has ever conceded
The Englishman was miles offside and after it looked like he was attempting to play the ball, Bruno Fernandes swooped in and put the ball in the back of the net.
The question after the Manchester derby was how the Portuguese international’s goal was not ruled offside.
After all, while Rashford did not touch the ball, he did not move out of the way and instead stood in front of it as he looked like he was about to shoot.
In the third episode of Netflix’s Together: Treble Winners documentary, Manuel Akanji was far from happy about the fact that the goal Fernandes scored on the day was given.
“I think it is the worst goal I have ever conceded, the way it happened with the offside”, he said.
“I have seen it after the game several times, and I was thinking about what I could’ve done better, but I don’t see anything I would’ve done differently in another situation. I still don’t understand to this day how it could’ve happened and I don’t see another way United come back into this game.”
Manuel Akanji is spot on
Before the strike from Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Akanji and his side were 1-0 up as Manchester City started to take a foothold of the game.
But unsurprisingly, United’s leveller meant the momentum was in their hands as they won to win the game.
Ultimately, the fact that the goal was not ruled offside was proof that fans, pundits and even players remain puzzled about several rules in football nowadays.
As if doing what Marcus Rashford did was justified, it would simply make sense to stay in an offside position for a forward.
