Oliver Glasner, the manager of Crystal Palace, criticized the decision to award a penalty to Manchester United during their 2-1 loss on Sunday, dubbing it an “Old Trafford bonus.”
Glasner argued that the penalty awarded in the second half significantly altered the match’s dynamics after United equalized following a goal deficit at halftime.
Maxence Lacroix received a red card for fouling Matheus Cunha.
The decision came after a VAR review by referee Chris Kavanagh, but Glasner expressed greater frustration over the penalty itself, claiming the initial contact occurred outside of the box.
“There are several situations to assess, but it still feels like a misguided decision,” Glasner remarked. “It’s not a penalty—perhaps a red card for a foul outside the box. The foul began outside the box, so it feels a bit like an ‘Old Trafford bonus.’
Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty, and Benjamin Sesko scored again, marking his third consecutive game with a goal, as Michael Carrick celebrated his sixth win in seven matches as head coach.
After the match, Carrick commended his team’s spirit as Manchester United climbed to third in the Premier League.
“The most important takeaway for us from the game is our resilience,” Carrick said. “This is the first time we’ve faced such a situation at halftime.”
“I felt we started the game a bit slowly, credit to them for their performance,” he added. “At halftime, it was crucial to assess our position and how we would respond, showing personality and belief.”
“Football can be challenging, especially in this league where things don’t always go your way. However, coming back in the second half to turn the game around is the key takeaway from today, without a doubt.”
With this victory, United surpassed Aston Villa to secure third place in the Premier League, while Crystal Palace remains in 14th place.