Man Utd boss Solskjaer gives Tottenham verdict after Moussa Sissoko’s Daniel James stamp

Manchester United won 2-1 in the Far East thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Angel Gomes, sandwiched between Lucas Moura’s equaliser.

But the heated meeting between the two Premier League clubs even prompted Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to apologise post-match after several heavy challenges, including Dele Alli on Scott McTominay and an apparent stamp from Moussa Sissoko on Daniel James.

Summer signing James was hacked down several times in the first half and after Sissoko looked to have planted his studs on the Welshman’s midrift after a tussle near the corner flag, both sets of players clashed.

Pochettino admitted: “I was a little bit annoyed about some situations. Not happy. It is a friendly game. I apologise on behalf of our players to Manchester United. 

“It is football. It was not the intention but sometimes you arrive late and something can happen.”

Yet Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was surprisingly less irritated by the feisty nature of the match, instead choosing to praise James for refusing to make the most of any fouls he was on the end of.

Solskjaer told reporters: “It’s a competitive sport. We’re preparing for the league. That’s why we have referees. I thought it was a very good preparation. There was no tippy-tappy football – you went in when you were supposed to tackle. I have no qualms.

“Of course we want them to be looked after but it’s a man’s sport, we can’t lose tackling in football as long as you tackle fairly.

“Dan is so quick and it’s not easy to time tackles against him. I can understand why players mistime tackles against him and he’s a brave little boy and he jumps.

“He’s taken a few knocks over the tour but, as an old man, I like to see tackles. There’s no rolling about, or diving [with James]. If he stays down he’s injured but he gets up when he’s just hurt.

“There’s a difference between being hurt and injured.”

Eric Bailly did however succumb to injury, albeit in a non-contact incident.

The injury-riddled Ivorian had to be stretchered off shortly after half-time as he twisted his knee in looking to stop Heung-min Son from shooting.

“It’s never nice when you get an injury and it’s not worth it when you lose one,” Solskjaer added. 

“He’s done his knee but we’re not sure how bad it is, so we need to get back to Manchester and do the scans, but let’s hope for the best.”

United’s win over their north London rivals was their fourth successive victory in pre-season following successes over Perth Glory, Leeds United and Inter Milan.

It also marked their final game in Asia with United returning to Europe to face Krisiansund in Norway next Tuesday.

And Solskjaer reflected at the end of their tour:   “I think we are getting better. We’re improving and pre-season is not about results, it’s about finding a way of playing, about finding a style that suits the players.

“And we’ve made good strides towards the team we want to be.”

source: express.co.uk