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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Nathan Ridley

Bruno Fernandes accepts same theory as Ralf Rangnick after disagreeing with Gary Neville

Listen to most pundits and Manchester United have a lot to learn.

The Red Devils are a long road from top and will need to change their ways in order to get back there.

And while their chaotic 4-2 win at Leeds on Sunday saw them reestablish a four-point lead in the race to qualify for Champions League football, Ralf Rangnick and co were reminded to wisen up.

Seconds before the hosts eventually equalised early in the second half, Bruno Fernandes crashed to the floor, adamant that he had been fouled by opposing midfielder Adam Forshaw while being dispossessed on the edge his own penalty area.

But referee Paul Tierney allowed play to go on and Leeds subsequently levelled the scores through Raphinha.

VAR agreed, leaving Fernandes and Rangnick scratching their heads as to why the incident went unpunished, ultimately landing on the same theory.

Join the debate! Was Fernandes fouled? Let us know your verdict below.

Fernandes believed that he was fouled in the build-up to Leeds' equaliser (REUTERS)

"I think it was a foul because when I passed the ball he stamped on my foot," Fernandes pleaded post-match, via manutd.com.

"[But] I don't see if he touches the ball when I did the pass. It's English football so I have to get used to it."

And the trials and tribulations of the Premier League were exactly what Rangnick was told about when he quizzed Tierney after the final whistle.

"For me, as somebody coming from Germany, there were quite a few tackles that in Germany there would've been no discussion whatsoever," the interim United manager explained.

"I spoke to the referee after the game about that tackle on Bruno before they scored the equaliser and I said, 'listen, in Germany, they wouldn't have even asked VAR' and the referee said to me, quite funnily, 'listen, this is probably why you had to come to England'."

While the two current Red Devils agreed that it was a foul, United legend Gary Neville thought otherwise while on live commentary for Sky Sports.

"I'm not sure that's a foul. There isn't too much in it, I'd be surprised if they overturn it," Neville admitted, putting his loyalties aside.

"It's onside, it's just that challenge, Forshaw on Fernandes. Harry Maguire pleads for the foul."

And his former teammate and fellow legend, Paul Scholes, joined him on the sterner side of the fence, claiming the collision was "too soft" to be pulled up.

"I think Fernandes has to be stronger. He's almost looking for a foul before anything happens and I don't think it is a foul," Scholes stated to Premier League Productions.

"Fernandes has got to be stronger there, that's a little bit too soft. His head is up in the air looking for a foul before he comes in."

Fortunately for Fernandes and Rangnick, next up is a game of European football, as they travel to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the last 16 of the Champions League.

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