Erik ten Hag lashed out hard at the on-duty arbitration after the 0-0 draw against Southampton. The Manchester United manager was visibly pissed off at Casemiro’s red card and the ensuing penalty situation. “This match has been influenced by the referee,” Ten Hag complains to the camera of Sky Sports.
The Tukker opened it post match interview with a hymn of praise to his team. “A big compliment to the team,” he said. “They have again shown a lot of character. You are with ten for a long time and you also played on Thursday. Again: this team is fit, both physically and mentally. They have put in a great performance, we could have won this game.”
Manchester United have to continue with 10 men after Casemiro gets red https://t.co/SpisHOkOwf#ViaplaySportNL #ViaplayFootball pic.twitter.com/ad7mKIBPO6
— Viaplay Sport Netherlands (@viaplaysportnl) March 12, 2023
With the latter, Ten Hag already seemed to be responding to what he believes was an external cause of the loss of points. When asked if United should have been awarded a penalty just before half-time (Armel Bella-Kotchap made hands), the Tukker responds with a resounding ‘yes’. “Absolutely, there is no doubt about that. I don’t understand why the VAR does not intervene, because before that it did.”
With the latter, Ten Hag is referring to Casemiro’s red card. The Brazilian flew into Carlos Alcaraz with two straight legs in minute 32 and was allowed to leave straight away by referee Anthony Taylor. “Casemiro has played more than five hundred matches in Europe,” Ten Hag counters. “He never got a red card. Now he gets in – what is it, four, five games? – two. Think about that. He plays hard, but fair. We will find a way to replace him, but that’s not the problem. This match has been influenced by the referee.”