• Manchester United's Harry Maguire tussles with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in the area during the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. No penalty was given after a VAR review. Reuters
    Manchester United's Harry Maguire tussles with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in the area during the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. No penalty was given after a VAR review. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Paul Pogba in action with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta. Reuters
    Manchester United's Paul Pogba in action with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka against Chelsea's Ben Chilwell at Old Trafford on Saturday. EPA
    Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka against Chelsea's Ben Chilwell at Old Trafford on Saturday. EPA
  • Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, left, tries to block a shot from Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester on Saturday. AP
    Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, left, tries to block a shot from Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester on Saturday. AP
  • Manchester United's Edinson Cavani, centre, Bruno Fernandes, right, and Paul Pogba . AP
    Manchester United's Edinson Cavani, centre, Bruno Fernandes, right, and Paul Pogba . AP
  • Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, centre right, tries to block a shot from Manchester United's Scott McTominay. AP
    Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, centre right, tries to block a shot from Manchester United's Scott McTominay. AP
  • Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saves a shot at goal. EPA
    Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saves a shot at goal. EPA
  • Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard after the match. EPA
    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard after the match. EPA
  • Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Saturday. EPA
    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Saturday. EPA
  • Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Manchester United's Paul Pogba after the match. EPA
    Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Manchester United's Paul Pogba after the match. EPA

'Holding is allowed, headlocks aren't': Chelsea fuming after Harry Maguire's challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta goes unpunished


Steve Luckings
  • English
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Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said he was frustrated after his side were denied a "clear penalty" against Manchester United in Saturday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Old Trafford.

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta was manhandled in the area by United counterpart Harry Maguire as they challenged for a header in the first half but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) dismissed the Spaniard's claims for a penalty.

Lampard vented at the officials after the match, saying "holding is allowed, but headlocks aren't".

"I thought it was a clear penalty," he said. "I couldn't see it at the time from where I was standing and those ones are hard calls for the referee. It's why we brought VAR into the game, but VAR was very quick to dismiss it.

"They should have taken time and advised the referee to look at the monitor. If he watches the monitor, he has to give the penalty, so it's confusing. There's a frustration because the rules seemed to be moving in the right direction.

"The referees were looking at the monitor a bit more at the start of the season. The person on the pitch should always take first responsibility and that was given back to them with the monitor."

The result extended United's wait for a first league win at Old Trafford this season, and they remain stuck in the bottom half of the table. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were at least able to avoid losing a third straight home league game at the start of the season for the first time since 1930.

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Manchester United v Chelsea ratings

  • David de Gea - 6. A star in the win over Paris Saint-Germain, a squib at Old Trafford. Clean sheet will be appreciated – his first at Old Trafford in six league games. AFP
    David de Gea - 6. A star in the win over Paris Saint-Germain, a squib at Old Trafford. Clean sheet will be appreciated – his first at Old Trafford in six league games. AFP
  • Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6. Fine defending. Threw himself to ground with a late attack. EPA
    Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6. Fine defending. Threw himself to ground with a late attack. EPA
  • Victor Lindelof - 7. Another positive game for the defender who had the better of Timo Werner and pushed forward as United went for a winner. United’s best player. AFP
    Victor Lindelof - 7. Another positive game for the defender who had the better of Timo Werner and pushed forward as United went for a winner. United’s best player. AFP
  • Harry Maguire - 7. Back after missing PSG and to continue his run of every Premier League game since he joined United. Fortunate not to have a penalty awarded against him. Otherwise fine. EPA
    Harry Maguire - 7. Back after missing PSG and to continue his run of every Premier League game since he joined United. Fortunate not to have a penalty awarded against him. Otherwise fine. EPA
  • Luke Shaw - 6. Got forward more as game went on. Blocked Reece James effectively. AFP
    Luke Shaw - 6. Got forward more as game went on. Blocked Reece James effectively. AFP
  • Fred - 6. 50th Premier League game in the Mancunian rain was not what it was in the Parisian equivalent. Still, solid and stable. Key late interception. Reuters
    Fred - 6. 50th Premier League game in the Mancunian rain was not what it was in the Parisian equivalent. Still, solid and stable. Key late interception. Reuters
  • Scott McTominay - 6. Solid and unspectacular, but works well alongside Fred and United’s midfield far harder to pass through than against Spurs. EPA
    Scott McTominay - 6. Solid and unspectacular, but works well alongside Fred and United’s midfield far harder to pass through than against Spurs. EPA
  • Daniel James - 4. Ran onto balls in dangerous positions – and then ran into opponents without ever troubling them. Better coming back to defend, but didn’t offer enough for a United attacker. EPA
    Daniel James - 4. Ran onto balls in dangerous positions – and then ran into opponents without ever troubling them. Better coming back to defend, but didn’t offer enough for a United attacker. EPA
  • Bruno Fernandes - 6. Bought as a game changer, but limited against Chelsea’s defensive wall as United have failed to win in their first three home games for first time in 48 years. His late overhead kick as wishful as the aspirations of either team to win. AFP
    Bruno Fernandes - 6. Bought as a game changer, but limited against Chelsea’s defensive wall as United have failed to win in their first three home games for first time in 48 years. His late overhead kick as wishful as the aspirations of either team to win. AFP
  • Juan Mata - 6. Accurate shot five minutes before half time and one of the better players in the first half but he shook his head as he was substituted. There were worse players, but Mata’s been good this season and this was his least effective game. AFP
    Juan Mata - 6. Accurate shot five minutes before half time and one of the better players in the first half but he shook his head as he was substituted. There were worse players, but Mata’s been good this season and this was his least effective game. AFP
  • Marcus Rashford - 6. Best chance of first half, but struck ball at Mendy when there was space to his right. United generally offered little up front. Booked in frustration after losing ball. Super late shot brought a fine save. AFP
    Marcus Rashford - 6. Best chance of first half, but struck ball at Mendy when there was space to his right. United generally offered little up front. Booked in frustration after losing ball. Super late shot brought a fine save. AFP
  • SUB: Paul Pogba (Mata 51') - 6: Went into Fernandes’ position. Some beautiful ball control and effective tackles. Reuters
    SUB: Paul Pogba (Mata 51') - 6: Went into Fernandes’ position. Some beautiful ball control and effective tackles. Reuters
  • SUB: Edinson Cavani (James 51') - 5: Almost scored with his first touch. Bright runs across defenders, but his crosses didn’t find their range. EPA
    SUB: Edinson Cavani (James 51') - 5: Almost scored with his first touch. Bright runs across defenders, but his crosses didn’t find their range. EPA
  • SUB: Mason Greenwood (McTominay 81') - N/A: A lively cameo as United pushed for a goal late on. AFP
    SUB: Mason Greenwood (McTominay 81') - N/A: A lively cameo as United pushed for a goal late on. AFP
  • Edouard Mendy - 7, Just about avoided severe embarrassment after a poor pass attempt nearly went in his own net but made some great saves to redeem himself. EPA
    Edouard Mendy - 7, Just about avoided severe embarrassment after a poor pass attempt nearly went in his own net but made some great saves to redeem himself. EPA
  • Cesar Azpilicueta - 8, This role on the right of a back three suits the Spaniard well, and he looked solid defensively throughout. Reuters
    Cesar Azpilicueta - 8, This role on the right of a back three suits the Spaniard well, and he looked solid defensively throughout. Reuters
  • Thiago Silva - 8, Was comfortable at the centre of Chelsea’s backline and pulled off a block towards the end that ensured they kept a clean sheet. Reuters
    Thiago Silva - 8, Was comfortable at the centre of Chelsea’s backline and pulled off a block towards the end that ensured they kept a clean sheet. Reuters
  • Kurt Zouma - 7, Like his fellow centre-backs, the Frenchman rarely looked troubled in the slightest by Manchester United’s largely tame front line. EPA
    Kurt Zouma - 7, Like his fellow centre-backs, the Frenchman rarely looked troubled in the slightest by Manchester United’s largely tame front line. EPA
  • Reece James - 8, Put in a great performance down the right, showing quality in both his attacking and defensive play. AFP
    Reece James - 8, Put in a great performance down the right, showing quality in both his attacking and defensive play. AFP
  • Jorginho - 6, He looked good with the ball but didn’t manage to turn that into anything truly productive. Reuters
    Jorginho - 6, He looked good with the ball but didn’t manage to turn that into anything truly productive. Reuters
  • N’Golo Kante - 7, One of the more alert players in this game, who kept the ball ticking over well and at least made an effort to get Chelsea going up the pitch. AFP
    N’Golo Kante - 7, One of the more alert players in this game, who kept the ball ticking over well and at least made an effort to get Chelsea going up the pitch. AFP
  • Ben Chilwell - 7, He was pretty quiet in an attacking sense, but the England international was another man in blue who looked confident defensively. Reuters
    Ben Chilwell - 7, He was pretty quiet in an attacking sense, but the England international was another man in blue who looked confident defensively. Reuters
  • Christian Pulisic - 6, One of Chelsea’s more threatening players in the game, but that doesn’t say a lot. AFP
    Christian Pulisic - 6, One of Chelsea’s more threatening players in the game, but that doesn’t say a lot. AFP
  • Kai Havertz - 5, Struggled to impact the game in a very meaningful way – he needs to do much more if he is to justify his fee. Reuters
    Kai Havertz - 5, Struggled to impact the game in a very meaningful way – he needs to do much more if he is to justify his fee. Reuters
  • Timo Werner - 5, Worked hard and made himself available for his teammates but didn’t threaten United’s defence much at all. AFP
    Timo Werner - 5, Worked hard and made himself available for his teammates but didn’t threaten United’s defence much at all. AFP
  • SUB Tammy Abraham (Werner 72’) – N/R, Just continued the trend of Chelsea attackers failing to make much of an impact. Reuters
    SUB Tammy Abraham (Werner 72’) – N/R, Just continued the trend of Chelsea attackers failing to make much of an impact. Reuters
  • SUB Mason Mount (Havertz 72’) – N/R, Added a bit of extra energy for the Blues, but didn’t threaten the United backline much. EPA
    SUB Mason Mount (Havertz 72’) – N/R, Added a bit of extra energy for the Blues, but didn’t threaten the United backline much. EPA
  • SUB Hakim Ziyech (Pulisic 81’) – N/R, Failed to show the sort of quality he was renowned for at Ajax - he’ll surely get better as he continues his return from injury. AFP
    SUB Hakim Ziyech (Pulisic 81’) – N/R, Failed to show the sort of quality he was renowned for at Ajax - he’ll surely get better as he continues his return from injury. AFP

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But the Norwegian was encouraged by the debut of new signing Edinson Cavani, who joined United earlier this month.

The Uruguayan nearly opened his account with his first touch, stabbing a Bruno Fernandes cross inches wide of Edouard Mendy's near post.

"He showed in glimpses what he can do. He'll give us a presence in the box. He's an experienced centre forward and the more we get the ball into him in and around the box we'll get goals from him," Solskjaer said.

Solskjaer said United were missing the presence of their supporters, with fans not allowed into football grounds due to the ongoing Covid-19 levels in the UK.

"We missed the crowd behind the goal there to suck the ball into the goal, which happens so many times at this place," he told BBC's Match of the Day.

"There were good players at the other end of the pitch. Their keeper made some fantastic saves.

"The quality in the defending was very good. I've said all the time we have a squad full of good players and good characters but now it's about kicking on after a poor start."