Erik ten Hag makes two bizarre claims after Man Utd loss to Man City

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The Manchester United manager was livid his team didn't receive a free-kick when Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker collided.

Erik ten Hag claimed his Manchester United side were ‘close to winning’ at the Etihad on Sunday in the 3-1 loss to Manchester City.

The Red Devils managed just three shots all game, one on target and had only 24 percent of possession, in what ultimately felt like a comfortable derby win for the champions. Admittedly, United did defend well in the opening hour and took the lead via Marcus Rashford’s outstanding strike.

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But Phil Foden’s brace and an injury-time goal from Erling Haaland ensured City took all three points as they finished the game confidently stroking the ball around an exhausted United side. But, after the match, Ten Hag said his team could on another day have grabbed a win, had several breakaway chances not been thwarted.

“Football is not just about possession, of course you need the ball to score a goal and we scored an incredible goal at the start,” opined the Dutchman. “In the first 20 minutes we had more opportunities, also before, if [Alejandro] Garnacho passes that ball in the first moment to Rashford. That was another good opportunity. Rashford could have had more [goals]. 

“We defended brilliantly out of possession and in defining moments we didn’t have it on our sides because at 1-1, Rashford was in another break, and just before the 2-1 it was Garnacho in the breakthrough. We were really close to winning or at least getting a point here.”

Ten Hag was livid in the 56th minute of Sunday’s encounter when Kyle Walker and Rashford collided as the United striker raced in on goal. Ten Hag furiously chucked a bottle to the ground when a free-kick wasn’t award, and was even more perturbed when seconds later Foden powerfully smashed the ball beyond Andre Onana to equalise.

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The United boss’ remonstrations continued and he was ultimately shown a booking after he pointed and shouted at the fourth official, over what seemed to be the correct decision. Rashford had gone down under the slightest contact, something Ten Hag admitted, but he seemed to imply a foul would have been the correct outcome.

“It was a tackle from Kyle Walker. They both run and Rashy confirmed to me there was contact and I have seen it back, it was very soft,” said the United manager. “But when you are in a full-speed run and you get a little touch and then you are out of control. That’s what I think happened.”

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