Erik ten Hag felt the penalty decision in the first half, given by VAR for a foul by Rasmus Hojlund on Rodri, changed the course of the Manchester derby, won 3-0 by visitors City.
The manager offered his thoughts on a disappointing derby day, as the Reds conceded that controversial first-half opener to Erling Haaland’s penalty, before further goals after the interval, by Haaland and Phil Foden, made for an unhappy afternoon.
United had chances ourselves but Andre Onana also made a number of good stops as the Blues collected the three points.
Here is a selection of what Erik had to say to the official broadcasters, including MUTV and Sky Sports, after the game…
VAR CALL ON HOJLUND
“The penalty changed the game. I don’t have a comment on it. I don’t have a comment. Yes [I saw it] but no comment.”
EARLY PERFORMANCE
“Especially the first half, the game-plan went perfectly. Only the penalty changed the game. The first half, we played very well. We defended very good, closing the spaces, getting into the press, keeping them away from our own goal. Only one big save by Andre [Onana], they almost didn’t create [too much]. We had opportunities, two or three great breaks, but didn’t benefit from it.
ANNOYED WITH THE SECOND GOAL
“The game-plan in the first half was very disciplined and then you see how successful it can be. We made an error for the second goal, we made a mistake. A wrong decision by going up to the keeper at the wrong moment. We did not recover quick and they can switch the play, our players are in the wrong positions and they make a great goal. We went out of shape and got killed by that but the first half was so perfect as we defended so well.”
MOUNT COMING ON AT HALF-TIME
“You can’t say that [you regret making a change]. We had to create. We are losing the game. You have to act as a manager, especially when you have the bench, you have to use the bench and bring more offensive power on the pitch. When you have Mason Mount on the bench, you can expect some creativity.”
WHY HOJLUND CAME OFF
“Rasmus is playing every game and is not used to it. We had to work very hard to get the press on and you have to protect those players. As well, for the team, protect them to bring new energy in. You see the effort Hojlund put in was massive. You have to take one off and Rasmus is coming in and is not used to three games a week.”
RASHFORD OUT OF LUCK
“It will come. The moment will come. Every game, he will have his chances and it is up to him but it will come.”
DEAL WITH THE DEFEAT
“When you play against this team, everything has to be perfect. So you don’t need help but also you don’t want anything against you. Today was not our day. We have to accept that but don’t forget the game-plan was very good in the first half. It hurts a lot. As you say, losing the derby is horrible. It could have been going a different way but it didn’t. Now you have to deal with it. Accept it, how it is, and, in 24 hours, you have to get up and go the next game [Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday].”
