Pogatetz says he is sorry for horror tackle on Possebon

Published on Thursday 25 September 2008 00:13

MIDDLESBROUGH defender Emanuel Pogatetz has confirmed that he is going to apologise to Manchester United midfielder Rodrigo Possebon for the tackle which saw the Brazilian teenager leave the pitch on a stretcher at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Possebon, 19, needed oxygen before he was taken off in the second half of United's 3-1 Carling Cup win over Middlesbrough following a studs-up challenge from the Boro captain.

Referee Andre Marriner showed the Austria international a straight red card after the incident which provoked a furious reaction from United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who remonstrated with opposite number Gareth Southgate on the touchline.

"Firstly, I have to say that I went for the tackle because I thought I could win the ball – I now accept, however that I misjudged the challenge," Pogatetz told www.mfc.co.uk.

"Immediately after the incident I did not think it was a red card offence because I did win the ball. But now I that I have had the chance to see the tackle on television, I know the ref was right to send me off.

"I am going to speak to Rodrigo by telephone and I will apologise for hurting him. I hope that he will make a quick recovery and that he will not be out for long."

It was initially feared that the challenge had broken Possebon's leg but he was later given the all-clear after spending the night in hospital.

"We can confirm that Rodrigo did not suffer a break to his right leg," a United spokesperson told www.manutd.com. "He was kept in hospital overnight for observation and to assess whether there was any ligament damage to his knee."

Speaking following the match, Ferguson had revealed his shock at the challenge which occurred midway through the second half. Even Southgate admitted he could have no complaints at the red card.

"You don't want to see things like that and I hope I never see anything like it again," said the United manager. "It is such a pity for the boy and took the gloss off what was a good performance."

Boro manager Southgate branded the challenge "poor" and admitted members of his bench had stepped out of line.

"A couple of lads on our bench did not have the same view as I did but that is dealt with now," he said. "We can have no complaints about the decision. It is difficult to know why it happened."

Veteran Ryan Giggs played over 80 minutes of the Carling Cup fixture and the double Champions League winner says he can sense a familiar momentum starting to build at Manchester United – bad news for Saturday's opponents Bolton. After taking encouragement from successive draws against Villarreal and Chelsea in the Champions League and Barclays Premier League respectively, United finally got the win they craved on Tuesday night.

"We didn't play well at the beginning of the season but over the last week or so we have played some really good stuff," acknowledged Giggs.

"This team is capable of going on a run and winning 10 games on the trot. Hopefully that run has started now and we can carry it on against Bolton."