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\u2019s win over Manchester United, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n The 25-year-old\u2019s performance against the Red Devils was one that\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n BASSSEYYY!<\/p>\n Old Trafford is silenced as Calvin Bassey has his first FA Cup goal in his first-ever FA Cup game for @FulhamFC<\/a> \u26aa\ufe0f#EmiratesFACup<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VZZub4sUam<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Fulham nicked a 4-3 win against the home side on penalties, but Shearer<\/a> gave the man of the match award to Manchester United\u2019s Bruno Fernandes, and that didn\u2019t go down well with Bassey<\/a>.<\/p>\n No man of the match https:\/\/t.co\/potAdFTCvY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Calvin Bassey (@CalvinBassey) March 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n READ MORE<\/strong>: \u201cYou have to be bright\u201d- What Premier League great Alan Shearer said about Calvin Bassey after role in Manchester United\u2019s downfall<\/a><\/p>\n Shearer, in response to Bassey\u2019s tweet, apologized to the Fulham defender while clarifying the reason he opted for Bruno Fernandes.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Calvin Bassey was very good. The problem is with the man of the match, you\u2019ve got to say it five minutes before the end. I\u2019m thinking, \u2018What do I do?\u2019 I\u2019ve got to give it before the penalties.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I just thought Bruno\u2019s 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\u2019ve 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,\u201d the one-time English Premier League winner said on The Rest Is Football podcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n When Shearer deliberated if players care about the Man of the Match awards, Micah Richards argued that defenders are often overlooked for accolades and felt the Fulham man deserved more recognition.<\/p>\n \u201cI send my apologies to Calvin Bassey, then. He should\u2019ve been the man of the match. There you go. I\u2019ve already said, haven\u2019t I, if it could\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it could\u2019ve been after the penalties, then it would either have been him or Bernd Leno if we\u2019d known they\u2019d gone through. So, apologies, Calvin! I\u2019ll give you it next time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Fulham will welcome Crystal Palace to the Craven Cottage in their FA Cup quarter-final towards the end of the month. Meanwhile, Marco Silva\u2019s side sits in 9th on the Premier League table and are firmly in the hunt for European football, as reiterated by Iwobi<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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