Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has explained that he did not intend to kick Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi after an incident in the first half the game which ended 2-0 to the visitors.
The world’s most expensive defender scored United’s second goal at Stamford Bridge on Monday night as he headed home from Bruno Fernandes’ corner as the Red Devils moved to within three points of Frank Lampard’s side in fourth place.
However, the Blues faithful were angered midway through the first half when Maguire avoided any punishment after appearing to kick out at Belgian forward Batshuayi as both tumbled over the sidelines.
There was a VAR check for violent conduct following the incident, but the 26-year-old center back Maguire was not penalized and the Englishman has now claimed he had not intended to hurt the Chelsea attacker.
While speaking to Sky Sports after the 2-0 victory against their fierce rivals Chelsea, Maguire defended his actions and the incident looked worse than it was on video, “I can see why [it could be seen as a kick]. I knew I caught him, I thought he was going to fall on me, my natural reaction was to straighten a leg, so if he was to fall on me, it was to hold him up. It probably looks worse than it was.
Maguire further explained that it wasn’t a kick out and had no intent on hurting his opponent, “It wasn’t a kick out, there was no intent, it was just my natural reaction to straighten my leg and if he was going to fall on me, to hold him up. I did catch him, I knew at the time but I think it’s the right decision. I didn’t have an intent to hurt him or kick him. It was just a natural reaction to straighten my leg, it wasn’t a kick. I’ve got studs on my boot, which makes it a little bit worse. I apologized to him but it was nice the referee has seen sense.”
