Erik ten Hag hit out at Marcus Rashford’s red card and blamed refereeing decisions for Manchester United‘s painful defeat in Denmark on Wednesday night.
United were two goals ahead against Copenhagen when Rashford was sent off before half-time for a challenge spotted by VAR, and went on to lose 4-3 at Parken Stadium.
Ten Hag was unhappy with several decisions that have left United bottom of Champions League Group A and their hopes of reaching the knockout stages hanging by a thread.
‘The red card changes everything,’ said the United manager. ‘I think when you freeze frame it, it always looks so much worse and as I say it takes them so long and they make a red card of it.
‘Come on. The first 25 minutes we dictated, dominated the game, went 2-0 up and then the red card changes everything. We are down to 10 and we are very disappointed.
‘We conceded two goals before half-time which should never count. The first is offside, a player is in front of Andre Onana.
‘The second is a penalty that’s very harsh. The ball on the hand, but it’s so close and the hand is in such a normal position. He (Harry Maguire) went for the ball and the ref needs such a long time. That is in four games, four penalties against us, and I say three are very debatable.
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 also wrong decisions are made by some at this level. Three such tough decisions (against FC Copenhagen). You control the game and the game is never meant to be for that.’