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'It is difficult to play with': Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blames Europa League BALL for being 'light' after Manchester United are held to Club Brugge draw

* Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said the Europa League ball was flat against Club Brugge
* Manchester United had Anthony Martial to thank for rescuing a draw in Belgium
* Japanese manufacturer Molten provides the match balls in the Europa League

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has blamed the condition of the Europa League ball and believes it hindered Manchester United and Club Brugge from playing during their stalemate in the first-leg of their Round of 32 tie.

Emmanuel Dennis got Club Brugge off to a dream start after catching the normally-dependable Sergio Romero well out of position, but Anthony Martial capitalised on an error to silence the tired Jan Breydelstadion and seal a 1-1 draw.

That away goal means United have the upper hand heading back to Old Trafford for the second leg of this last-32 tie, leaving Solskjaer pleased on the whole.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was unhappy with the Europa League ball against Club Brugge. Anthony Martial rescued a draw for United on a wet and windy Thursday night in Belgium

But the United boss was not overly pleased with the Europa League ball - which is provided by Japanese manufacturer Molten on matchdays - against the Belgian leaders on a wet and windy night in Bruges.

'It was a difficult game against a well-organised team in difficult conditions,' he said. 'I don't think it was one of the best games that anyone's seen.

'A bit sloppy concentration-wise, but the conditions with the pitch and the ball makes it hard.

'It's just different and difficult to play with,' Solskjaer said of the ball. 'You can get one and try! It's light.

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But Solskjaer was bemused with the ball's condition and said it was too 'light' to play with. Japanese manufacturer Molten provides the match balls on matchdays in the Europa League. Solskjaer said that it had been a frustrating night for Martial up until his equalising goal

'But it's the same for the two teams, of course. But the conditions weren't nice, the wind and the rain.

'But anyway, strange goals for both teams. Their throw-in we scored from and a long kick straight through the middle, so lack of concentration probably from both teams there.

'We needed to make everyone part of the squad (so I made changes), gave them games.

'We've got so many games now, so we got an away goal, we got a draw. We go home next week so hopefully we can finish the job.'

Solskjaer will be hoping for better football from his side next Thursday - and in an ideal world a better ball.

Thankfully Martial was concentrating when Brandon Mechele inexplicably allowed Maxim De Cuyper's thrown-in to drop, with the United forward showing pace and strength to race through before beating former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

'It was a good goal today,' Solskjaer said. 'He wasn't really in the game before he scored the goal.

'We didn't create enough, or we didn't make enough runs in behind to create space for Anthony and it was a frustrating night for him until then.

'Then (a) good goal and then he gets a good chance with his left foot, good strike, good save by Mignolet.'

That second chance hit the post but United should have been fighting an uphill battle from the outset in the view of Club Brugge head coach Philippe Clement.

Before beating Romero with a clipped effort, the video assistant referee reviewed a third-minute challenge by the Argentina international on Dennis in the box.

'For me it's a clear penalty,' Clement said. 'If I see the images and in some countries it's a red card, if you go with two feet forward against the leg of somebody, it's a red card.

'All the circumstances need to go your way if you're going to beat United and tonight we didn't get that.

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8026773/Ole-Gunnar-Solskjaer-blames-Europa-League-BALL-Manchester-United-held-Club-Brugge-draw.html