In Matchweek 5 of the Premier League, Fulham suffered an 89th-minute equalizer to draw 1-1 against Manchester United. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Fulham head coach Álvaro Arbeloa lashed out directly at the match officials, stating that every decision favored Manchester United and insisting that he had already realized during the Manchester derby that referees simply do not want Manchester United to lose.
On the Match
Arbeloa: “We were inches away from winning. We were genuinely unlucky today, but we also understood that facing a team of this caliber would be exceptionally tough, and we all saw every decision the referee made throughout this game.”
On the Referee's Decisions
Arbeloa: “A lot of decisions went in their favor. You only need to look at that foul by Maguire—every call favored them.I knew after the game against Manchester City that they don't like Manchester United to lose.”
Still Awaiting Their First Win
Arbeloa: "We were truly just one step away from our first victory, so right now it is certainly painful.
"I think we played very well today. This match was never going to be easy for us; we are currently sitting at the bottom of the table (Note: actually second from bottom), but today when we had the ball, we played with real spirit and courage. Naturally, there were spells where we had to dig in and defend, but overall, we put in a good performance today.
"Our objective was to shut down their transitions and counter-attacks. We knew they would pack numbers into the penalty area, so we had to control the space behind our midfield. At times, they did find those pockets of space—matches against top sides of this quality are inherently difficult, and I believe this team will definitely finish near the top of the table by the end of the season.
"Now we must secure our first win. Look at our opponents across these first five fixtures: Manchester United, Chelsea, away at Liverpool, away at Sunderland. The upcoming October schedule will be crucial for us.
"We showed today the kind of team we want to be, and as long as we keep playing this way, that victory will come sooner or later."
