Man Utd boss Solskjaer sends defiant message to UEFA over Wan-Bissaka ban

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the club will appeal against Aaron Wan-Bissaka's ban in the Champions League having been left "shocked" by the length of it.

Wan-Bissaka was handed a two-match suspension for the tackle which saw him sent off in United's 2-1 defeat by Young Boys on September 14.

The right-back was shown a straight red card in the 35th minute of the match in Switzerland for his poor challenge on Christopher Martins Pereira.

As a result he sat out of United's dramatic 2-1 win over Villarreal on Wednesday night, with Diogo Dalot filling in for Solskjaer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is angry with UEFA over Aaron Wan-Bissaka's suspension ( Image:

Manchester United via Getty Imag)

But, as it stands, the 23-year-old will also be absent from United's third Champions League group stage match against Atalanta at Old Trafford on October 20.

That is because UEFA deemed Wan-Bissaka's tackle to be "rough play," meaning his mandatory one-match suspension for the red card was doubled.

Solskjaer believes that characterisation is unfair and is hoping to get the decision overturned so his defender will be available in Europe after the international break.

"[I am] shocked," he told MUTV.

"Yeah, we're going to hand an appeal in, of course, because he ends up almost with a three-game ban.

"It's two-thirds of the game he got sent off in, that one [against Villarreal at Old Trafford], and an extra one.

"If you look at other tackles in the Champions League, I can't see any reason why he should have two games, or almost three as I said."

Is Solskjaer right? Should Wan-Bissaka's two-match suspension be overturned? Have your say in the comments section below.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is currently unavailable for the Atalanta tie later this month ( Image:

Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Wan-Bissaka's ban meant that Solskjaer was severely limited in his defensive options for Wednesday's match against Villarreal.

While Dalot filled in for Wan-Bissaka, Alex Telles and Victor Lindelof also started, with both Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire injured.

Dalot struggled massively up against Arnaut Danjuma, so Solskjaer's insistence on having Wan-Bissaka back to face Group F leaders Atalanta is understandable.

Wan-Bissaka is in contention to play in Saturday's Premier League game against Everton, but Shaw will now be assessed following a shoulder injury picked up in the 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa.

"Luke feels better in himself," Solskjaer said on Friday. "He's been ill but he's still got the shoulder injury. We've got to make a decision on him."

Maguire will miss the game with a calf injury sustained in the Villa loss, while Marcus Rashford is on track to be available after the international break after returning to training following his shoulder operation.

"Marcus is fit, he's worked really hard, but he's not had any contact (until now)," Solskjaer said.

"If his shoulder can take the contact now, he should be ready after the internationals."