Former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker, Alan Shearer, has publicly apologized to Super Eagles defender, Calvin Bassey, after the man-of-the-match debacle in Fulham’s win over Manchester United, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 25-year-old’s performance against the Red Devils was one that’ll be remembered for ages. The Nigerian was rock solid at the back and threatened in attack, scoring the opening goal in front of the Stretford End at Old Trafford.
BASSSEYYY!
Old Trafford is silenced as Calvin Bassey has his first FA Cup goal in his first-ever FA Cup game for @FulhamFC ⚪️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/VZZub4sUam
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 2, 2025
Fulham nicked a 4-3 win against the home side on penalties, but Shearer gave the man of the match award to Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, and that didn’t go down well with Bassey.
No man of the match https://t.co/potAdFTCvY
— Calvin Bassey (@CalvinBassey) March 2, 2025
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“I thought Calvin Bassey was very good. The problem is with the man of the match, you’ve got to say it five minutes before the end. I’m thinking, ‘What do I do?’ I’ve got to give it before the penalties.
“So, I just thought Bruno’s got Man United back into the game with the one piece of quality that they needed. It was him who dragged them [into it] and was playing all these probing passes, but, if I could’ve waited until after the penalties, then it might have gone to Leno, and it perhaps should have gone to Calvin Bassey, who I thought was absolutely superb at centre-half,” the one-time English Premier League winner said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“I send my apologies to Calvin Bassey, then. He should’ve been the man of the match. There you go. I’ve already said, haven’t I, if it could’ve been given after penalties, it was either going to be [Bassey] or Bernd Leno because [Leno] pulled one great save off and obviously made the two penalty saves in the shootout.
“If it could’ve been after the penalties, then it would either have been him or Bernd Leno if we’d known they’d gone through. So, apologies, Calvin! I’ll give you it next time.”