Erik ten Hag frustrated by pivotal referee decision as Man Utd drew 2-2 with Tottenham

Erik ten Hag said he was disappointed Manchester United were not awarded a penalty in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

Goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford ensured the Red Devils took a point at Old Trafford as Sir Jim Ratcliffe watched on, while Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur netted for Spurs.

But it was a moment in the first half that irked Ten Hag, when Destiny Udogie pulled Alejandro Garnacho back with both hands inside the box. The challenge wasn’t even checked by VAR, a decision that annoyed the United boss when speaking post-match.

“But what can you do? I am used to it, all season that is the case,” a frustrated Ten Hag conceded “[At] Spurs [in August] it was similar, was a clear handball from [Cristian] Romero and I can list a number more. At some point in the season I think it will turn to our side. Let’s hope for that.”

It was a mixed performance from United on Sunday, with the Red Devils carrying a threat on the break and seeing two attackers scored - a rarity this season. But they allowed Tottenham to have far too much control in the centre and recorded 64 percent possession at Old Trafford.

Spurs also had three times as many shots on target, while United struggled to cope with Ange Postecoglou's side from set-pieces, with Richarilson scoring from a first-half corner, Romero's header striking the bar on the stroke of half-time and Diogo Dalot forced to clear off the line early on.

“I think we scored two great goals and conceded two soft goals so especially they had all the time a threat in set-plays, we should defend set-plays better,” Ten Hag opined. “The second goal came from a goal-kick, we should have been quicker in organisation and stopped the diagonal, defended better from the whistle on. 

“It [Richarlison's goal] is the equaliser and it is no good, but I have seen some good spells, two goals but also we created some other chances. I think that was well played and that pleased me most but you are slightly disappointed when you get away with this result.”

The draw leaves United seventh in the table and eight points off the Champions League places, ahead of the two-week international break.