Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana insists the right call was made not to award a penalty when he collided with Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic deep into stoppage time of his team’s 1-0 opening win at Old Trafford on Monday night.
Onana had enjoyed a really promising Premier League debut up to that late incident, making a number of important, albeit relative routine, saves as Wolves carved out the better chances.
A shot from Pedro Neto that was straight at the Cameroonian and two blocks with his feet to deny Fabio Silva in separate moments particularly stood out.
It was a crucial performance from a new goalkeeper who had been under fire for not keeping a clean sheet during pre-season and even suffering the embarrassment of a lob from the centre-circle. But a moment of madness threatened to risk it all when he chased a high cross into the box late on.
Onana got their second behind Kalajdzic, colliding with the Wolves player and leaving him in a heap on the floor. United fans both inside Old Trafford and watching from afar held their collective breath as it looked certain to given as a penalty. But, even after a lengthy VAR check, play just carried on.
Asked by Sky Sports afterwards if he thought it was a penalty, Onana unsurprisingly replied: "No, goalkeepers make decisions, sometimes you are right, sometimes you are not.
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"I made a decision and I am responsible for everything. For me, it was contact between two big guys and nothing happened. But for us, the most important thing was to win and I am happy for the victory. Of course I was confident [it would not be given as a penalty]."
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil stated that Jon Moss, manager of elite referees at PGMOL, quickly apologised for the incident and even labelled it a "blatant penalty".
"Jon Moss said it was a blatant penalty and should have been given - fair play to him, he apologised," O’Neil said. "Fair play to Jon for coming out and saying it was a clear and obvious error - he couldn't believe the on-field referee didn't give it and can't believe VAR didn't intervene."
United boss Erik ten Hag didn’t shock anyone with his verdict, supporting the decision and Onana. That is despite only admitting that the goalkeeper got their second after Kalajdzic had already touched the ball, which is usually the definition of a foul.
"When VAR looked at it and decided not to give it of course we are pleased," Ten Hag said. "It's about the referee and the VAR. I think the two players come together and Andre didn’t interfere with the action from them because first was the touch on the ball and then came Andre."
This article was originally published on 90min as Andre Onana reacts to Wolves' penalty claim on Premier League debut.
