Man Utd manager Erik Ten Hag blames officials for the team’s defeat in Copenhagen on Wednesday night. This comes up due to three decisions made by the officials which fundamentally affected the performance of the team. Erik describes Manchester United’s performance in their 4-3 defeat at FC Copenhagen as “very good’’ and blamed the officials for the result.
Wednesday night’s performance threatens Man Utd’s hope of qualifying for Group A.
Man Utd led 2-0 before Copenhagen balanced the score to 2-2, this was after Rashford was sent off. Fernandes put United 3-2 ahead however this was changed at the end of the second half, conceding three or more goals in a match for the seventh time this season. Ten Hag is pleased with much of what he sees from his side, this is despite their chances of progressing from a group that they were heavy favorites to negotiate.
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‘’We are very disappointed because we played very well,” he said. “We started the game so well. These are our best minutes of the season. We are winning the game and the red card changes everything.”
Copenhagen had more of the possession and registered 16 shots to United’s nine, but Ten Hag insisted: “It’s a game of mistakes. I wouldn’t say we did everything right but there are a lot of positives.
“Even with 10 men, we were dictating the game. We played very good.”
Instead, Ten Hag believes a number of decisions went against United in the Danish capital, starting with the call to send off Rashford for stamping on Elias Jelert as he looked to protect the ball following a VAR review.
So, so harsh,” Ten Hag said of the decision. “He went for the ball and the referee needs a long time to make it a red card.
“When you freeze it, it looks worse. I am very disappointed about such a decision.”
Ten Hag went on to become the latest manager to criticize the implementation of VAR, adding: “The game is never meant to be like this. This has nothing to do with football.
“I accept wrong decisions are made but when you make such tough decisions, you control the game.”
Ten Hag did not comment on the penalty that was controversially awarded to United for handball against Lukas Lerager – despite the ball traveling a short distance and appearing to strike Harry Maguire’s hand first.
Nonetheless, he was upset about the penalty Maguire conceded for handball – the fourth to go against United in the Champions League this season – while he also claimed a Copenhagen player distracted Andre Onana from an offside position for their first goal.
“We concede two goals that should not count,” Ten Hag argued. “The first is offside and the second goal, it’s so close and the hand is in a normal position. What can you do for that?
“Four penalties against us in four games and two or three are very debatable. The game can’t be like this.”
Erik said the decisions that went against his side are part of a pattern that has helped to contribute to the nine defeats they have suffered in 17 games this season – the most at this stage of a campaign in 50 years.
“This squad is so solid,” he said. “All season, so many decisions are against us and so many setbacks with injuries.
“There is a spirit in the squad and every time we will keep going. It will turn in our favor.”