Erik ten Hag criticised the referee, Donatas Rumsas, and the VAR for Marcus Rashford’s red card and the decisions that allowed Copenhagen’s opening two goals as Manchester United lost 4-3 in the Champions League to leave them bottom of Group A with two games left.
On a breathless night at Parken, United were 2-0 up when Rashford stepped on Elias Jelert’s ankle near the visitors’ area. At the next break in play Rumsas was directed to the pitchside screen to review the challenge and sent the forward off. Three minutes later Mohamed Elyounoussi scored, though Ten Hag claimed this should have been ruled out owing to an offside Copenhagen player being in the eyeline of the United goalkeeper André Onana.
The manager also said Diogo Gonçalves’s penalty, which levelled the scores in the ninth added minute of the first half, should not have been given for handball against Harry Maguire.
Ten Hag said: “It’s clear: we are very disappointed, we started the game so well – the best 10 minutes of the season – we are winning the game and the red card changes everything. We [then] concede two goals before half-time which should never count.
“The first is offside, the second a penalty – but it’s so close and the hand is in such a normal position. The red card is harsh, he [Rashford] went for the ball and the referee needed such a long time [to decide]. When you freeze [the act] it always looks worse.
“I’m very disappointed about such decisions. The game is never meant to be like this – this has nothing to do with football. Decisions have to be made and I accept wrong decisions are also made at this level. Three such tough decisions [tonight] when you control the game.”
While United again took the lead in the second half via Bruno Fernandes’s penalty, late finishes from Lukas Lerager and Roony Bardghji consigned them to another defeat. Ten Hag’s side are a point behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen, with the same goal difference as the former and with a worse off one of one than the latter. They play the Turkish side next before finishing the phase by hosting Bayern Munich.
“This squad is resilient and I said to the lads: ‘It will turn, one moment in the season it will turn in our favour,’” Ten Hag said.
