Alex Ferguson accuses Fernando Torres of overselling foul
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Liverpool striker Fernando Torres of being a dirty player and overselling a challenge by John O’Shea.
The sides met in the English Premier League yesterday, a match United won 3-2 thanks to a hat-trick by Dimitar Berbatov. However, the Bulgarian striker’s memorable feat has been slightly overshadowed in Ferguson’s post-match analysis, with the Red Devils
boss taking the opportunity to slam Torres.
The World Cup winner had a hand in both of his sides’ goals as he was fouled for both of the set-pieces that led to Steven Gerrard’s brace. He was felled by Jonny Evans inside the area for a penalty, but it was Torres’ reaction to the challenge by O’Shea
(that resulted in Gerrard scoring Liverpool’s second goal from a free-kick) that led to Ferguson’s anger.
O’Shea hauled down Torres outside the penalty area for the free-kick. O’Shea was yellow-carded, and although it was questionable as to whether or not he should have been sent off, Ferguson accused Torres of overacting in a bid to have the Republic of Ireland
defender dismissed.
He told reporters today that, “I’ve watched it again and I have to say Torres made a meal of it. He made an absolute meal of it to get our player sent off."
Meanwhile, Ferguson’s counterpart at Liverpool, Roy Hodgson, took a more rational view of the challenge.
He told reporters that, “Sir Alex is entitled to any opinion he wants to have but I'm not going to come here and say I agree or disagree. I am not a great lover of red cards for petty offences. Alex is a lot closer to it where he sits, but my first thought
when it happened was 'this is a foul', but I didn't think he should have been sent off. My staff around me jumped about saying he should have been sent off, but I took a much calmer attitude towards it.”
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