Michael Owen has slammed Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Raphael Varane for turning their backs on a free-kick during Leeds United's 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
In what was a spirited performance from Leeds, they would have had every right to feel slightly disheartened not to have come away with three points against Man United. A goal from Wilfried Gnonto after just 55 seconds was followed with a Varane own goal early in the second half.
Erik ten Hag's side fired back with strikes from Rashford and Jadon Sancho as the points were shared in the first of a Premier League doubleheader between the two clubs. On Sunday afternoon, they will go head to head once more as Elland Road plays host to the return top-flight fixture.
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And Leeds were so close to going into that game with a chance to do the double over Man United. With the Whites 2-1 up, Brenden Aaronson hit the post in an effort that so nearly made all the difference.
Yet the American was given the chance in the first place after Rashford and Varane turned their backs in a Man United defensive wall, leaving a gap that came close to catching David de Gea out.
After the game, Owen criticised the pair for their actions as he told Premier League Productions : "I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe this wall. Look a this the way they split – Varane and Rashford they just split – the ball goes low, right through the middle, it didn’t go over the wall at all. If that goes in, and they both turn away, that’s criminal, that’s criminal.
"I mean, if that goes in there’s serious, serious words being had after. You simply cannot do that. You need to be big, brave and bold in a wall and to turn your back and split – everything you cannot do they did there. They’ve got away with it. They better look at that and think, ‘wow, that’s pretty embarrassing, we can’t do that again’."
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