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The drama at Old Trafford came as former United favourite Marcus Rashford was preparing himself for a potential debut for Aston Villa at Tottenham on Sunday, while further afield, another old boy – Cristiano Ronaldo – celebrated entering his fifth decade in familiar style with a goal.
Elsewhere, Manchester City fired a fresh shot across the bows of the Premier League with a new legal challenge.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was furious after an “unacceptable” and “unthinkable” error saw Harry Maguire’s offside winner stand as Leicester exited the FA Cup at his former club Manchester United.
The City boss, who started the season as one of Erik ten Hag’s assistants and stepped up as interim manager before being let go by Ruben Amorim, saw Bobby De Cordova-Reid head his side in front at Old Trafford, only for substitute Joshua Zirkzee to level before Maguire snatched a 2-1 fourth round win in contentious fashion.
The United defender had clearly strayed offside when the ball was sent over, but VAR is not introduced until the next round.
Van Nistelrooy, who told ITV the Foxes were “not defeated in Fergie time” but “offside time”, said: “It’s a hard one to take because the game was decided on a mistake. It was clear. It’s not a matter of VAR, where you have to look at millimetres. It was half a metre.”
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is relishing the “huge challenge” of getting England striker Marcus Rashford back to his best.
The 27-year-old has joined Villa on loan on from Manchester United until the end of season with the option of a permanent transfer in the summer after being frozen out at his boyhood club by new Amorim.
Emery, who could hand him a debut against Tottenham in the cup on Sunday, said: “I think his potential is huge potential to exploit. I don’t want to know the reason he is leaving from Manchester, but I am …
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