Ole Gunnar Solskjaer declared himself “very pleased” despite Manchester United’s long wait for an away victory stretching to ten games.
United’s worrying slump in form continued in Den Haag with a goalless Europa League draw against AZ Alkmaar, in which they failed to register a single shot on target.
Solskjaer defended his players after the final whistle, pointing to the plastic pitch at the ADO Den Haag Stadion and a potential penalty on substitute Marcus Rashford.
AZ, however, were the better side for long spells and were twiced denied spot-kicks of their own: once for a possible Brandon Williams handball and another foul involving Fred.
“It’s a good point away from home against a difficult opponent and on a difficult surface,” said Solskjaer. “We made many changes and I’m very pleased.
“It should’ve been a win. I’m fed up of talking about penalties we should have had. Arsenal on Monday and now. That’s a penalty 100 times out of 100.
“The linesman today can look straight at the tackle on Marcus. He just wipes his foot. It’s a bad decision. Unfortunately for us we didn’t get it.
“No point me complaining, but there will come a point where these decisions will turn out way.
“Today was the decision of the referee, it should have been a penalty. We could have sat here smiling.
“There are many games we could and should have won away from home. I don’t think that’s an issue today. It’s a good away point. In a group, if you get a point away, win all your home games, you go through.”
