Erik ten Hag was angered by “three robust choices” that went in opposition to Manchester United in a chaotic late loss at Copenhagen that damages their possibilities of reaching the Champions League knockout part.
Wednesday’s helter-skelter Group A encounter began with a Rasmus Hojlund brace in opposition to his former membership however resulted in a crushing 4-3 defeat sparked by Marcus Rashford’s crimson card.
The United ahead was despatched off after a VAR evaluate late within the first half for catching Elias Jelert, with Mohamed Elyounoussi rapidly scoring earlier than Diogo Goncalves levelled from the spot.
Bruno Fernandes’ penalty put the guests again forward within the second half, just for Lukas Lerager and substitute Roony Bardghji to attain in a blockbuster conclusion to a bonkers match.
“It’s clear we’re very upset and since you play superb,” Ten Hag mentioned. “I feel we began the sport so properly. One of the best minutes of this season.
“We’re profitable the sport and I feel the crimson card adjustments every part.
“Then we concede two objectives earlier than half-time, which ought to by no means have counted.
“First is offside, second a penalty and that’s – in 4 video games – 4 penalties in opposition to. I say three are very debatable.
“(Rashford’s crimson) can be harsh. I feel he went for the ball and the referee wants such a very long time to make it a crimson card.”
Marcus Rashford’s crimson card led to Manchester United’s downfall (Zac Goodwin/PA)
(PA Wire)
Ten Hag says an offside participant was in Andre Onana’s imaginative and prescient when Elyounoussi scored and was aggrieved by the choice to award handball in opposition to Harry Maguire for Goncalves’ penalty.
The United boss was additionally irritated by the sluggish movement and freeze body proven to referee Donatas Rumsas by the VAR as he selected Rashford’s crimson.
“I feel if you freeze it, it all the time appears to be like worse,” Ten Hag mentioned. “As I say, it takes them so lengthy and so they make a crimson card of it.
“I’m very upset about such choices. I feel the sport is rarely meant to be like this.
“It has nothing to do with soccer. Choices must be made and I settle for that additionally flawed choices are made by some at this stage.
“Three such robust choices, you management the sport and I feel the sport is rarely meant to be for that.”
The defeat leaves United backside of Group A and figuring out they are going to be unable to achieve Champions League knockout part in the event that they lose their penultimate match at Galatasaray on the finish of November.
“This squad is resilient,” Ten Hag mentioned. “The entire season, so many choices are in opposition to us, so many setbacks for accidents.
“Each time there’s a spirit, there’s a combat and we’ll hold going as a result of I’m certain and I mentioned to the lads it is going to flip – on one second within the season it is going to flip in our favour.”
Copenhagen counterpart Jacob Neestrup admitted Rashford’s crimson card modified the dynamics of a win he felt his facet deserved after their promising begin to the group.
“I’ve by no means mentioned within the first three rounds we’ve been unfortunate,” the top coach mentioned. “I’ve mentioned it’s been an absence of high quality.
“If there was one thing that was known as luck in soccer, then we’ve obtained it right this moment. However we additionally hunted.
“The early objective made us very, very shaky. We’re the second greatest group on the pitch in the entire first half till the crimson card.
“That in fact modified momentum for the following quarter-hour within the first half the place we scored two objectives.
“After all the crimson card modified the alternatives within the sport and for me as Copenhagen coach it was by far the weakest efficiency we’ve had on this group stage to this point.
“In the event you take the image right this moment, then we possibly didn’t deserve three or possibly even one level.
“However should you take it over 4 rounds, then it’s very, very properly deserved that Copenhagen is in second place as a result of I consider really that we’ve been the second greatest group over 4 video games. Not right this moment, however over 4 video games.”
