The Old Trafford derby erupted in controversy on Saturday as Manchester United snatched a dramatic victory after scoring a ‘joke’ equaliser.

Manchester City were furious over Bruno Fernandes’ goal in the 79th minute and complained bitterly to the match officials amid heated scenes in the tunnel area afterwards.

Marcus Rashford, who sealed a 2-1 win with the decisive goal three minutes later, was at the heart of the controversy when he ran into an offside position but left the ball for Fernandes to score.

Manchester City star Manuel Akanji has insisted Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser in the Manchester Derby should not have stood

City were convinced that Rashford was interfering with play and Fernandes’ goal should have been ruled offside

City were convinced Rashford was interfering with play, and defender Manuel Akanji said: ‘The first goal is a joke that it’s allowed. Rashford is clearly offside. I understand he doesn’t touch the ball, but he runs for 30 metres chasing it and then he stops because Bruno is coming in behind him.

‘The referee has to at least look at the situation. Probably the pressure got to him in the stadium, that’s why he decided to let it go.’

Akanji was one of several players who approached the referee Stuart Attwell and fourth official Robert Jones at the end, and the protests continued into the dressing-room area.

‘I came really late to it,’ he added. ‘When I was there it was close to the end. I don’t know how it started or what was the actual reason but everybody was not in a good mood.’

But referee Stuart Attwell allowed the goal to stand, resulting in protests after the final whistle

Pep Guardiola claimed Rashford ‘distracted our keeper and central defenders’ following the game

City boss Pep Guardiola insisted that his players didn’t go over the top with their complaints, saying: ‘Nothing happened. I know exactly how we behave.’

Guardiola was unhappy over how the offside rule was applied and also hinted that the officials may have been influenced by the Old Trafford crowd.

‘Marcus Rashford is offside, Bruno Fernandes is not,’ said the City boss. ‘Rashford distracted our keeper and central defenders. It is what it is. The rule is the rule and the interpretation belongs to the referees.

‘We know where we play, it is difficult for the referees in these stadiums. This is Old Trafford, we have to play much better.’

Guardiola also said he ‘didn’t care about the Premier League or the Carabao Cup’ after seeing City drop points in the title race, but clarified his comments afterwards.

The 25-year-old continued his hot streak in front of goal by scoring the winner just minutes after the controversial equaliser 

‘Come on, of course I care about the Premier League,’ explained Guardiola. ‘But right now, if you don’t win you don’t win. You’re not going to win for the next 25 years. We will fight, but sometimes football is like this. They deserve it.’

United manager Erik ten Hag defended the referee’s decision after seeing his side win for the ninth game in a row.

‘It’s a confusing moment for the opponent,’ said Ten Hag. ‘But if you follow the rules, he didn’t touch the ball. He was not interfering and it’s a goal. Bruno came from the back, I could see that from the other side.’

Not surprisingly, Fernandes also insisted that Rashford didn’t interfere with play or influence the actions of the City players.

Following the game Erik ten Hag defended Attwell’s decision to allow Fernandes’ goal to stand

He said: ‘I think because I was facing the goal, Marcus probably saw I was in a better position. I didn’t know if any of us was offside or not, but no one was close to him so it doesn’t have an influence on the defending team. The only one close was close to me, so it is what it is – a goal.’

However, Luke Shaw as a little more sympathetic to City’s protests after giving another impressive display at centre-back to help keep Erling Haaland quiet.

‘Of course you can understand where they are coming from,’ said Shaw. ‘If I’m on the other team, then we’re all doing the same. I think everyone would say that.

‘Rashy was clever to know that Bruno was there and leave the ball. For me, it was a goal. The linesman and ref were talking about it and I could see them say it was a goal.’

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Manuel Akanji brands Man United’s equaliser against Man City ‘A JOKE’ amid Rashford controversy

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