Le Tissier: Offside Call Disgusting

Matt Le Tissier has branded the decision to rule out Manolo Gabbiadini's opening goal in the EFL Cup final as "disgusting".

The Italian striker looked to have secured an 11th-minute lead for Southampton in their first major final appearance since 2003, turning Cedric Soares' cross beyond Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea from six yards.

But, with Ryan Bertrand having stayed beyond the last United defender, the linesman chalked Gabbiadini's effort off for offside, despite the left-back not making contact with the ball.

The decision prompted fiery criticism from Sky Sports pundit and former Saints midfielder Le Tissier, who took offence with the decision he felt distorted the the complexion of the final.

"If Southampton had scored the first goal it would have put a whole new complexion on this game," he said.

"At this level, the assistant has to get the decision right. The linesman cannot even see Gabbiadini (because he's behind Chris Smalling, onside) so how can he flag him offside?

"What is he thinking? How can he think Bertrand tapped the ball in?

"This is a cup final, he has to get these decisions right and that decision was disgusting."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jesse Lingard would both go on to score before the Saints finally found the back of the net through Gabbiadini's strike in first-half stoppage time.

The January signing then hauled his side level three minutes after the interval, but it proved to be fruitless as Ibrahimovic's 87th-minute winner saw United win the trophy.

Credit: Skysports.com