Manchester United could have won against Manchester City and defended in “brilliant” style, manager Erik ten Hag has said after their 3-1 defeat left them 18 points behind their neighbours.
Marcus Rashford gave underdogs United a surprise lead they retained until the 56th minute at Etihad Stadium, when Phil Foden equalised with an equally exceptional strike and Ten Hag was booked for launching a water bottle, having felt that Rashford had been fouled by Kyle Walker in the build-up to the goal.
Foden scored again 10 minutes from time as part of an exchange with Julian Alvarez before Erling Haaland atoned for an implausible earlier miss from close range by hitting City’s third in added time.
“The performance was very good,” said Ten Hag, whose side’s unbeaten start to 2024 ended with a last-gasp home defeat against Fulham eight days earlier.
“They fought, there was togetherness… on another day, we could have won this game. There are small margins. The way we defended was brilliant.”
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Under-pressure Ten Hag observed that fifth place in the Premier League is likely to be sufficient to qualify for next season’s Uefa Champions League, but his players are six points behind Spurs, who occupy that position and have a game in hand on the 20-time champions.
The gap between title challengers such as City and United was clear during the later stages of the hosts’ comeback, which put them 18 points above their opponents.
Ten Hag said Rashford and defender Jonny Evans had started the game despite injuries, with Bruno Fernandes given a free role.
“It was very small margins but all credit to [Man] City”
Erik ten Hag believes Man United’s plan ‘went well’ in their 3-1 defeat to Man City 🎙️ PIC.TWITTER.COM/YUHETM7HMG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) MARCH 3, 2024
Speaking about his angry reaction to the lack of intervention from the officials over Foden’s first goal, the Dutchman said Walker had made contact and called the incident a “defining moment”.
“It’s very debatable,” he said, calling a tackle by City goalkeeper Ederson on Alejandro Garnacho, when the Brazil international appeared to make a robust but fair clearance after advancing from his line, a “reckless action”.
“From the counter-attack, they made it 2-1,” he said, adding of Walker’s challenge: “It was soft but, when you are in a full sprint and you get a little touch, you lose the rhythm – and that’s why [Rashford] went down.”
United’s 143-game winning league run when leading at half-time came to an end, condemning them to their first defeat on such an occasion since a loss against Leicester City in September 2014.
