Wayne Rooney slams shambolic defending in Manchester United defeat to Leicester City
Monday 22 September 2014 08:13, UK
Wayne Rooney slammed Manchester United’s defending after Leicester City produced a dramatic comeback in their 5-3 win at the King Power Stadium.
Louis van Gaal’s side were left stunned as four second-half goals from the Foxes wiped out the Reds’ seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead.
United seemed on course to take all three points after goals from Robin van Persie, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera, but they paid the price for a string of defensive errors.
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Rafael and Tyler Blackett gave away penalties, with the latter earning himself a red card, and United capitulated as Nigel Pearson’s side completed a memorable rally in the closing stages.
Rooney lamented United’s inability to close out the game and called on his team-mates to tighten up at the back.
“It’s really disappointing,” he said. “Going 3-1 up especially and then losing the game, it’s hard to take.
“We should have done better as a team, seen the game out and won it from the position we were in. (There were) some mistakes and we didn’t do well enough as a team to stop their goals.
“It’s a game where we played some great stuff, scored some great goals and conceded some sloppy goals.
“We have to do better; we know that - as a team we have to do better. It’s not nice when you concede goals when you know we can prevent them. Everyone individually as a player knows that.
“They had the momentum with them in the last twenty minutes and we had to somehow try and find our composure and see the game out, but we failed to do that.”
United’s players reacted angrily after referee Mark Clattenburg awarded the first spot-kick for Rafael's foul on Jamie Vardy in the box.
The Foxes striker appeared to barge Rafael off the ball in the build-up and Rooney questioned Clattenburg's decision.
“I don’t think it was a penalty,” he said. “I think it is very harsh but referees nowadays have got a very difficult job to do – we understand that.
“Mark (Clattenburg) had to make a decision on the spot of what he felt was right and we have to respect that.”
