Man United, who were cruising 2-0 at that point, never recovered from the red card. On top of it, a contentious penalty was also given to both sides.
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Manchester United suffered a heart-breaking defeat in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday. The Red Devils gave a tough fight to the Danish side despite playing most of the game with 10 men. In a game filled with controversies, United’s striker Marcus Rashford was sent off half-way through the first half. The decision to send him off has received mixed reactions among supporters and pundits.
Man United, who were cruising 2-0 at that point, never recovered from the red card. On top of it, a contentious penalty was also given to both sides. In the end, Copenhagen just about won 4-3 in a thrilling Champions League contest. Speaking about the match, Erik ten Hag, quoted by the club’s website, said in his post-match press conference, “Yeah. It’s clear. We are very disappointed because you play very good.”
He added: “I think we started the game so well, the best minutes of this season. We are winning the game and I think the red card changes everything. And then we concede two goals before half-time which should never have counted. The first is offside, the second is a penalty. Four penalties against [in the Champions League] and I’d say three are very debatable.” On the red card, he said, “It’s also harsh. I think he went for the ball and the referee has such a long time. They need such a long time to make it a red card.”
Ten Hag also said that the freeze framing of the replay could make it look “worse.” “I think when you freeze it, it looks always so [much] worse. And as I say, it takes them so long and they make a red card of it. I’m very disappointed about such decisions. I think the game is never meant to be like this. This has nothing to do with football. Decisions have to be made and I accept that there are also wrong decisions made. If I sum it up, then you make on this level three such tough decisions… you control the game, and I think the game is never meant to be for that,” he elaborated.
Not long after the red card, United’s defence started to crack and they conceded two quick goals before the half-time whistle. When asked whether the team needs something in terms of game management to close things out, ten Hag replied, “But as I said, what can you do for it? When the first is an offside goal. There is a player in front of Andre [Onana], the second it’s like a ball on the hand. It is defending, but it’s so close and the hands are in a normal position. So what can you do for it? The same like Christian Eriksen in Munich. What can you do for it? And also for Scott McTominay [at Sheffield United], it’s very debatable. And I think the game can’t be like this, that it has to be a certain aspect of objective and that’s not the case.”
Earlier, Manchester United’s injury list got that extra bit bigger after Jonny Evans had to come off due to an injury. Asked about it, ten Hag said, “I’m not sure in this moment. He has to come off. I think it was a pity because he was part of it from that good part in the game where we were controlling, very composed and calm, it’s the way I see my team. Yeah, but he had to come off and I think still we are in control, still we are leading. So we have to see how bad it is. It’s not about 11 players. We have more players and we have good players, so we have good replacements to solve that.”
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