Solskjaer hits back at Lampard over ahead of FA Cup clash
Football
By
Mirror
| Jul 19, 2020
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at Frank Lampard – and insisted his Manchester United stars aren't divers.
Chelsea boss Lampard stoked the fires ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with United by pointing the finger at £59.7million midfielder Bruno Fernandes, calling him “clever” after earning a penalty at Aston Villa recently.
United have been awarded 13 penalties this season, equalling a Premier League record.
But furious Solskjaer rubbished the notion his lightening-quick attackers cheat.
“100 per cent I will defend my players, none of them try to con the ref at all” insisted the United boss.
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“If you have quick feet like Dan James, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial or Mason Greenwood and you get tackles in or around the box, some ankles could’ve been broken for our players.
“I just want them to be protected.
"There should have been a red card for Oriol Romeu when he almost crippled Mason Greenwood in the Southampton game, maybe that would have helped us.
“And the same when Mark Noble should’ve been sent off half yard in front of me at West Ham when he battered Aaron Wan Bissaka and we lost there.”
Solakjaer confirmed defender Luke Shaw will miss the game as he recovers from an ankle injury.
But full back Brandon Williams is training again after a nasty head wound against Southampton.
The United boss also looks set to stick with stand-in keeper Sergio Romero who has played in all this season's FA Cup games.