Erik ten Hag was enraged by “three difficult decisions” that conspired against Manchester United in a chaotic late loss in Copenhagen, which eliminated the club’s prospects of advancing to the knockout round of the Champions League.
Wednesday’s tumultuous Group A match against his former club began with a brace from Rasmus Hojlund but concluded in a devastating 4-3 loss precipitated by Marcus Rashford’s red card.
Late in the first half, the United forward was dismissed following a VAR review for capturing Elias Jelert; Mohamed Elyounoussi scored the penalty shortly thereafter, and Diogo Goncalves leveled it.
The visitors retook the lead in the second half on a penalty kick from Bruno Fernandes, but Lukas Lerager and substitute Roony Bardghji scored in a thrilling denouement to a bizarre match.
“It is evident that we are extremely dissatisfied, and that is due to the fact that you perform so admirably,” Ten Hag stated. “I believe that our start to the contest was excellent. These are the most memorable moments of the season.
“We are in the lead in the game, and I believe the red card will put an end to that.”
“Thereafter, just prior to halftime, we give up two goals that ought never to have been awarded.
“The first is an offside, and the second is a penalty, for a total of four penalties against in four games.” I contend that three are highly debatable.
“Rashford’s red card is harsh as well.”
“I believe he attempted to seize the ball, yet the referee took an eternity to issue a red card.
“Ten Hag asserts that Andre Onana saw an offside player at the time Elyounoussi scored and was dissatisfied with the ruling that awarded misconduct against Harry Maguire for the penalty kick taken by Goncalves.
The United manager was also irritated by the freeze frame and slow motion displayed by the VAR to referee Donatas Rumsas as he called Rashford’s foul.
Ten Hag opined, “I believe it always appears worse when frozen.”
“As previously stated, they earn a red card after spending so much time on it.
“I am extremely disheartened by these decisions. I believe that the game was never intended to be this way.
“It is unrelated to football in any way. It is necessary to reach decisions, and I acknowledge that some individuals at this level may make erroneous choices.
“By making three such difficult decisions, you gain control of the game, which I believe was never the intention of the game.
“United (who are currently in last place in Group A) are cognizant of the fact that a loss in their penultimate match at Galatasaray at the end of November will prevent them from advancing to the elimination phase of the Champions League.
“This team possesses resiliency,” Ten Hag stated. “Throughout the entire season, numerous decisions adjourned us and injuries caused numerous setbacks.”
“A fight ensues whenever there is a spirit, and we shall persevere because I am certain, and I have told the boys, the tide will eventually turn in our favor at some point during the season.”
Jacob Neestrup, his counterpart for Copenhagen, conceded that Marcus Rashford’s red card altered the course of a victory that Neestrup believed his team deserved following their encouraging start to the division.
The head coach stated, “I have never stated that we have been unlucky in the first three rounds.”
“I have previously stated that there has been a deficiency in quality.
“Today, if there were such a thing as fate in the sport of football, it has been established. But we hunted as well.
“The early goal rendered us extremely, extremely unstable. Until the red card, we were the second-best team on the field throughout the entire first half.
“That, without a doubt, altered the tone for the subsequent fifteen minutes of the first half, during which we scored two goals.
“Of course, the red card altered the game’s opportunities, and in my opinion as coach of Copenhagen, that was by far our weakest performance of the group stage thus far.”
“Should the photograph be taken today, it is possible that we did not merit three points, if not one.”
“However, when four rounds are considered, Copenhagen’s second-place finish is extremely, extremely deserved, as I firmly believe that we have been the second-best team throughout those four contests.”
Instead, more than four games from now.