Erik ten Hag said Manchester United harnessed the “madness and anger” at the injustice of Matthijs de Ligt being ordered off due to a head injury before Brentford’s controversial opening goal to fuel a 2-1 second-half comeback victory at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ethan Pinnock’s strike from a corner in added-time came with De Ligt receiving treatment, the third occasion he needed to be patched up. While he was off the pitch, Pinnock headed home, sparking protest from the defender, Ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy, with the manager and his assistant booked.
Inside two minutes of the second half Alejandro Garnacho equalised before Rasmus Højlund’s first league goal of the season, on 66 minutes, claimed victory.
“You see how we turned it around – we felt some injustice and used it as fuel, the madness and anger. I really enjoyed the performance,” said the manager.
Given De Ligt’s bandage had failed to stem the bleeding, Ten Hag was asked why he protested so strongly. “It was dry blood so he was already treated for the injury,” he said. “I didn’t understand why he was sent [to the touchline]. I went over to Matthijs and he said: ‘It is dry blood and I have to come off – I don’t know why.’ A huge moment because Brentford [are] very good at corners and you miss one of your best headers.”
The victory was a first league win since beating Southampton 3-0 four games ago, and United’s first league goals since that match, but Ten Hag played down the result as being a turning point. “No, it is just a win. The last block [of matches] we didn’t win enough but we only lost one game [3-0 to Spurs] and that was when we were down to 10 [players] and afterwards everyone agreed we shouldn’t be down to 10.
“The only thing we had to do was score goals, we were in good spots but were not clinical and determined enough. What didn’t help was Rasmus being injured at the start of the season but now he is back. But we have enough players with scoring abilities and today we scored two great goals”.
Thomas Frank was crestfallen. “To concede a goal after two minutes disappoints me and the momentum just changed,” said Brentford’s manager.
