Erik ten Hag advised Manchester United to fuel their comeback against Brentford with the “injustice” of Ethan Pinnock’s goal.
Pinnock headed Brentford ahead from a corner in the fifth minute of extra time in the first half after Matthijs de Ligt was directed off to have his head injury checked.
De Ligt had already twice left the field to have his head attended to by the United medical team, but blood was still evident as he got ready for Brentford’s corner.
Ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy were punished for their demonstrations; the United manager still believed referee Sam Barrott was incorrect to advise De Ligt to come to the touchline since it was dry blood on his crown.
“It was dried blood, therefore he was already treated for that injury,” Ten Hag added. “Just dried blood.” Nobody from us could explain his being sent out.
“I went over to Matthijs and he said, ‘it is only dried blood so I have to come off, I do not know why.’” Brentford is particularly good at corners, hence missing a header results in disappointment as they help the team.
“This is speculative; we never know (should it start United’s comeback). Certainly, though, we were furious at half-time. Although our plan was not flawless, we managed the game. We generated some possibilities and then it felt unfair when you compromise as we did; we did not give up possibilities.
De Ligt informed me he was good; that is what he reported. When he came off, I asked him whether there was any issue. No, he was 100% there and there was never a question of taking him off.”
Two minutes after the restart, Alejandro Garnacho equalised; Rasmus Hojlund dinked in the winning goal on 62 minutes to help United rise to ninth in the Premier League standings.
After going 317 minutes without scoring in the league, United has now won as many league games as they have lost. Ten Hag insists that the team’s sole issue this term has been goalscoring.
Since recovering from a hamstring injury he experienced in United’s first game of pre-season against Arsenal in Los Angeles, Hojlund has scored in two of his three starts.
Erik ten Hag urged Manchester United to channel their frustration over the perceived “injustice” of Ethan Pinnock’s goal during their comeback win against Brentford. Pinnock’s goal came in the fifth minute of extra time in the first half, following Matthijs de Ligt’s enforced exit from the pitch due to a head injury. De Ligt had already been treated twice, and despite the injury being mostly dried blood, referee Sam Barrott ordered him off before Brentford’s corner.
Ten Hag and assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy were visibly upset, and Ten Hag criticized the referee’s decision, arguing that De Ligt’s removal was unnecessary since he had been cleared by the medical staff. De Ligt himself expressed confusion, telling Ten Hag it was only dried blood and that he felt fine to continue.
Despite this setback, Manchester United came out in the second half determined, with Alejandro Garnacho scoring the equalizer two minutes after the restart, and Rasmus Hojlund securing the winner in the 62nd minute. The win lifted United to ninth place in the Premier League standings, ending a 317-minute goal drought. Ten Hag highlighted that the team’s main issue this season has been finishing their chances, not overall play.
Hojlund’s return from a hamstring injury has been crucial, with him scoring in two of his three starts since recovering.
