Manchester United manager David Moyes has confirmed he spoke to Ashley Young in the wake of Saturday's diving row and reiterated his belief that retrospective punishment should be used to help referees if necessary.
Young was booked for diving during the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, sparking a huge debate in which Eagles chairman Steve Parish claimed offenders should be sent off. A long-time critic of divers, Moyes admitted he cannot be completely certain it will never happen again. But he has left Young in no doubt about his feelings.
“You can never be sure it won’t happen again but I have had a word with him privately,” said Moyes. “I said after the game and I have said for many years, diving is something we should have retrospective video for. That would help referees no end.
“It is really difficult at times. Moving from Everton to Manchester United doesn’t change my views on that.”
In an atatemp to draw a line under the issue, Moyes added referee Jon Moss “got it correct” at the weekend when he booked Young. “He gave the punishment for it so I don’t see why the debate should go on any longer.”
The United boss confirmed Wayne Rooney will require the headband he wore during Saturday's game should he feature in tomorrow night's Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen even though he trained without it this morning.
It will be Moyes's first group game in the competition, having been beaten by Villarreal in 2005 in a final qualifying round tie with Everton.
Danny Welbeck will miss out with a knee injury whilst Phil Jones is also doubtful with an ankle problem that ruled him out at the weekend. And definitely absent is Adnan Januzaj, the 18-year-old Belgian who made such an eye-catching debut against Palace.
Moyes confirmed that the complicated Uefa eligibility criteria means if United wait to register him until October 7th, by which time he will have been with the Red Devils for two years, he can go on the B list of youth players.
It means Januzaj will sit out both tomorrow's game and the trip to Shakhtar Donetsk next month.
Evidently though, the winger has a bright future, with Moyes confirming he expects Januzaj to sign a long-term contract extension at some point in the future. “I am confident he will sign a new contract,” said Moyes.
