After matchwinner Harry Maguire scored in the 93rd minute from an offside position, Manchester United advanced to the FA Cup fifth round in a contentious manner. Ruben Amorim gave a candid evaluation of the defender’s goal.
With just seconds remaining on the clock, Maguire headed past Mads Hermansen to give the Red Devils the opportunity to continue defending the oldest football championship in the world, bringing back memories of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign to Old Trafford.
In the 43rd minute, a six-yard box scramble saw the ball bounce off the head of an unidentified Bobby De Cordova-Reid and slip into the net, giving an ultimately deflated Leicester the lead just before halftime.
The game was altered by Alejandro Garnacho’s halftime arrival, who produced some outstanding left-wing play leading up to Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser. The controversial choice to let Maguire complete his team’s advancement followed.
As Bruno Fernandes sent a deep free-kick into a dangerous area, several Manchester United players were also offside, in addition to the English defence. The goal stood because the linesman failed to notify referee Michael Salisbury.
In the Premier League, officials typically have the advantage of using VAR to correct bad calls. However, Salisbury had to support his team’s choice because the technology was only deployed starting in the fifth round of this season.
Amorim, who is considered to be among the top young managers in international football, was brutally honest about Maguire’s goal in his post-match interview, stating that it shouldn’t have stood because he was in an offside position.
We ought to have VAR since the goal was offside. It ought to be present to reverse the ruling. Both the opponent and Ruud [van Nistelrooy] find it difficult.
The Lisbon-born tactician expressed his sadness for his opposing number, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who won three of his four games as the Old Trafford team’s interim manager in 2024. He then cited his team’s impressive second-half performance.
Although we were able to make some minor adjustments to the game in the second half, our performance was subpar. However, in the second half, we shown more vigour and spirit. It was a positive outcome because several players also contributed to the squad, but we obviously need to do better in terms of performance.
Incredible honesty from Ruben Amorim. 🗣#FACup #ManUtd pic.twitter.com/GBkELpCGrT
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 7, 2025
Supporters have praised Amorim on X (previously Twitter) for his candid evaluation of what ought to have been chalked off. One fan commented, “Very honest in his assessment, got to give him credit for that,” while another remarked, “Well done Amorim for being honest.”
Van Nistelrooy also expressed his emotions over the penalty call. He made reference to the extra minutes that opponents said Ferguson, the Dutchman’s manager at Old Trafford, gave to the once-dominant Manchester team when it was needed.
Rather of losing in Fergie time, we lose in offside time. It is difficult to accept because it is obvious that the game was decided incorrectly.
"The game was decided on a mistake, we are gutted" 💬
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy says it was "unacceptable" and "unthinkable" to award Harry Maguire's late winner at Old Trafford last night. pic.twitter.com/oP9AvXDKie
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 8, 2025
“It is not a matter of VAR, where you have to look at millimetres,” he added in a fury. It is obvious that it is half a metre. This was not a fair method for the squad to lose the game. They played well, fought, and controlled the game for a considerable amount of time.
