Erik ten Hag went as far back as Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in September to highlight his team’s bad luck this season.
On Sunday, Manchester United produced a performance of a lifetime under their under-fire manager when they beat Liverpool 4-3 in the FA Cup and booked their semi-final ticket against Championship side, Coventry City.
In one of the most incredible FA Cup ties in history, they won the game in stoppage time of extra time to boost the team’s morale and possibly push them towards another trophy.
Erik ten Hag stated after the game that he is hoping this moment can turn his team’s season around, he even highlighted their game against Arsenal back in September, and how it could have happened earlier, as he told his post-match press conference.
Declan Rice scored a sucker-punch late goal against Manchester United back then, before Gabriel Jesus sealed the points with a quite incredible and arrogant finish.
But the man in the Old Trafford dugout thinks Rasmus Hojlund should have had a penalty in that game, Alejandro Garnacho’s goal shouldn’t been ruled out and Declan Rice’s goal shouldn’t have stood.
From the perspective of Erik ten Hag, he suggested that, if those calls had gone in his team’s favour, then perhaps, they would be in a better position in the Premier League today.
Erik ten Hag on Arsenal
On Man United not getting the opportunity to turn around their season and how this FA Cup win could now possibly make that happen:
“It could be, but we miss so many opportunities, for instance, against Arsenal, what was it the fourth game of the season?” asked ten Hag.
“In the 87th minute, we should have had a penalty on Rasmus Hojlund, then we scored with Garnacho and it was disallowed. We then concede a goal, but it should have always been disallowed.
“Such moments can help you. Every team needs these moments in the season and we never had that moment. This could be that moment – I think if you can beat Liverpool in the way we did, then you can beat any opponent.”
Have Manchester United done Arsenal a favour?
Arsenal are sitting top of the Premier League table after 28 games, with Liverpool and Manchester City hunting them down.
When the players return from the upcoming international break, then the really serious stuff will start.
But could Man United have done their old rivals a favour by, not just beating Liverpool, but taking everything out of them?
If Liverpool’s season fizzles out from now until the end of the campaign, then you can highlight yesterday’s defeat as the moment that started the slide.
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