Twitter goes mad as Manchester United kick off 2021 with controversial penalty
By Tom Gott
2021 is supposed to be a fresh start for everyone. 2020 was the stuff of nightmares, but this year is the perfect time for change.
Well, unless you're Manchester United.
If you're Manchester United, you can look forward to another year of penalties.
The Premier League's first penalty in 2021.
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 1, 2021
Bruno Fernandes had to be the scorer. ? pic.twitter.com/ta8Q4h9rUH
United welcomed Aston Villa to Old Trafford on New Year's Day, but channelled their inner 2020 in the 60th minute when they won yet another penalty - their 11th of the season in all competitions. That's 11 in 25 games, which is a frankly ridiculous record.
Paul Pogba went down in the box and was deemed to have been tripped by a furious Douglas Luiz, who was adamant that he did not touch the Frenchman.
The referee did not hesitate to give the penalty and VAR agreed with the decision, and while there clearly was slight contact, Villa were left furious at just how little was needed to take Pogba to the ground.
Pogba trips himself up. Wins a pen.
— amar singh (@amarjourno) January 1, 2021
Those are the fine margins United get that no other club get. 50/50’s swing their way coupled with 11 penalties this season.
— #8 (@MedianoEra) January 1, 2021
Embarrassing. The amount of penalties handed to United over the past two seasons is criminal.
— Andrew Gaffney (@GaffneyVLC) January 1, 2021
Getting sick of Man United getting the lightest penalty shouts week in week out ?
— buvey (@lawrence_bury) January 1, 2021
Man United getting the most penalties in 2021 then pic.twitter.com/zRftx2o7Vu
— CarefreeYouth (@CarefreeYouth) January 1, 2021
As per usual, up stepped the excellent Bruno Fernandes, who fired home into the bottom left for his bazillionth goal for the club since joining 12 months ago.
Penchester United? Bruno Penandes? Take your pick. Neither are funny anyway.
Of course Bruno Fernandes has scored the first penalty in 2021 ???????
— RiZzy? (@RiZzyUTD) January 1, 2021
9 - Since the start of February 2020, Bruno Fernandes has scored nine penalties in the Premier League - two more than any other player. Formality. pic.twitter.com/FF2pkA3iji
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2021
Bruno Fernandes signed for Manchester United 48 weeks ago. He’s already taken 16 penalties.
— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) January 1, 2021
One every three weeks.
United awarded a penalty? Fernandes scores?
— Adam W (@adamwinnett2) January 1, 2021
Are we just starting 2020 all over again? ??♂️
Don’t know why people complain about the number of penalties. Penalties are great. No-one’s ever turned off a game just before a penalty is taken. “Open play goals only for me Carol, pass me the remote immediately”
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) January 1, 2021
Football is a simple game. We have Bruno Fernandes.
— Jordan (@FourFourJordan) January 1, 2021
You don’t ? pic.twitter.com/0Gq235DUWe
Fernandes' penalty was enough to steer United to a 2-1 win over Dean Smith's side, helping the Red Devils move level on points with league leaders Liverpool after 16 games.
Happy New Year ( Joint Top ?) pic.twitter.com/b3m68gSWD3
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 1, 2021
It's the third Premier League game this season in which a Fernandes penalty has won all three points for United, which is mental.
He's already been directly responsible for victories over Brighton and West Brom, and now Villa can add their names to the ever-growing list!