Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund joked that Kyle Walker should win an Oscar after Roy Keane criticised the Manchester City’s defender play-acting in the derby.
Hojlund and Walker were involved in a heated confrontation during the first half at the Etihad but it was the United striker who had the last laugh as Amad Diallo inspired a dramatic comeback.
Walker was involved in an argument with Hojlund after clipping the United striker, but then fell to the ground as the pair went head-to-head.
Replays showed there had been little to no further contact between Hojlund and Walker after the initial head-to-head, but that did not stop the 34-year-old collapsing to the turf.
On Sky Sports, former United captain Keane slated Walker’s dive as “embarrassing” and Hojlund took to Instagram shortly after United’s 2-1 win to post a brilliant comeback.
Along with a picture of himself and Walker butting heads, Hojlund wrote: “Manchester is red; Violets are blue; What a brilliant performance; But the Oscar goes to…”
Initially, it seemed as if Hojlund was risking a red card after losing his head, but Walker in the end seemed to escape a sending off.
The England international could have been booked for clipping Hojlund in the first place and then risked a second by diving.
On Sky Sports, former United captain Keane was scathing as the replays of the incident were shown at half-time.
When host Kelly Cates wondered whether there could have been a red card, Keane replied: “Yeah, to Walker.
“This is going to happen in the game, a bit of argy-bargy,” he continued.
“Of course it’s a foul, it’s a free-kick. Hojlund goes over, but Walker, he should be embarrassed. I don’t know the guy and I’m embarrassed by that.”
Former City defender Micah Richards looked to rise to Walker’s defence and said the right back is “better than that”.
“I’m not so sure,” Keane quipped in response.