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Erik ten Hag says Manchester United must be more ruthless to avoid being ‘hammered with unfortunate timing’ after Crystal Palace’s last-gasp equalizer… before claiming Scott McTominay should have been awarded a penalty
- Erik ten Hag has criticized United for not being ruthless enough against Palace
- United drew 1-1 with Palace on Wednesday despite taking the lead
- Manchester United manager said they should have scored a second goal
- He also said that McTominay should have been awarded a penalty in the second half.
Erik ten Hag criticized his Manchester United players for not being ruthless enough on Wednesday night after conceding a last-gasp equalizer at Crystal Palace to miss out on second.
Michael Olise’s impressive free-kick in the 91st minute canceled out Bruno Fernandes’ opening goal, and Casemiro’s fifth booking of the season leaves him out of Sunday’s trip to leaders Arsenal.
Ten Hag lamented the missed opportunity. “We had control of the game,” he said. ‘We needed to invest more for a second objective. If you score, the game is over and now instead you get hit with an unlucky moment at the end.
Erik ten Hag (above) criticized his Manchester United players for not being ruthless enough against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
I have to criticize my team. Go for the second. Bruno and Rashy (Marcus Rashford) on the wings, Alejandro Garnacho, a lot of creativity, speed and power, and Scott McTominay with penetration behind.
Ten Hag was also frustrated by the decision not to award United a penalty in the 72nd minute with 1-0 up, when Scott McTominay went down in the Palace penalty area under pressure from defender Chris Richards.
Asked if United were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty, Ten Hag said: “From my perspective (we should have had a penalty), but the VAR and the referee make the decision.” We have to accept it.
Manchester United took the lead in the first 43 minutes at Selhurst Park on Wednesday
It was Bruno Fernandes who found the back of the net to give United the lead
Casemiro, involved in a bizarre second-half incident before his booking when a fan entered the field without question by security to take a selfie, entered the game with a yellow card away from a suspension, but Ten Hag said no. I had doubts about playing with him. .
He also insisted that United can go to leaders Arsenal and win, having beaten them at Old Trafford without the Brazilian midfielder in September.
The Dutch coach said: ‘This game was important, every game is important. Every game in the Premier League is a top game.
His challenge was instinctive. He lost the ball. It’s pretty clear that it would have been a dangerous situation. Casemiro wanted to stop him and that was his reaction.
However, Crystal Palace scored a last-gasp goal to level the score and end the match 1–1.
Michael Olise scored a sensational free kick past United goalkeeper David de Gea
He is a very important player for us and one of the reasons we are in the position we are in.
‘But we have a strong enough team to fill that void. The last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro, this time we have to do the same.”
However, goalkeeper David de Gea admitted that it was a loss for the club. “It’s a big blow to lose Casemiro for Sunday,” said the Spaniard. “I don’t understand why Arsenal don’t play (this week) as we have to play and they don’t.”
Now we are missing one of our best players. Now we miss him for a big game and it’s a big loss for us.”
Ten Hag also felt that Scott McTominay should have been awarded a penalty in the second half.
Casemiro received a yellow card which means he will miss his clash with Arsenal.
Palace manager Patrick Vieira, whose team had lost four of their five games since the World Cup, said: “It was important not to lose the game. It was important to stay in the game and take a fully deserved point.
‘When you go through a difficult period, you have to keep working hard and we were rewarded. We showed some resilience and that will be very important for the rest of the season.”