BREAKING NEWS: Manchester United has announced Very SAD NEWS for Matthijs de Ligt head injury
Erik ten Hag explained that Manchester United used the controversial circumstances surrounding Ethan Pinnock’s goal as a catalyst for their comeback victory against Brentford. Pinnock’s header from a corner found the net during first-half stoppage time, just after United’s Matthijs de Ligt had been forced off the pitch for a head injury evaluation.
The incident occurred when de Ligt was instructed to leave the field for medical checks twice, despite only having dried blood on his head. Referee Sam Barrott insisted on his exit just before the corner was taken, a decision that both Ten Hag and assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy strongly protested. Their objections led to them being penalized, with Ten Hag maintaining that the decision was unjust.
“It was simply dried blood, and Matthijs had already been treated,” Ten Hag explained. “Nobody could understand why he had to leave the field. I spoke to him, and he told me, ‘It’s just dried blood; I don’t know why I was sent off.’ It was a significant moment because Brentford is very effective at set pieces, and it was frustrating to concede a goal in that manner.”
The United manager suggested that the perceived unfairness of the situation may have fueled the team’s determination in the second half. Alejandro Garnacho promptly scored the equalizer shortly after the break, and Rasmus Hojlund netted the decisive goal in the 62nd minute, propelling United to an eighth-place standing in the Premier League.
The victory marked a turning point for a team that had been struggling recently, having gone 317 minutes without a goal in the league. Despite the dry spell, Ten Hag emphasized that the main problem has been finishing chances rather than creating them.
Hojlund, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury during pre-season, is now finding his form, scoring in two of his three starts since returning to the lineup. His contributions have been a welcome boost for United as they aim to climb the league table following a challenging start to the campaign.
The win against Brentford not only secured three valuable points but also provided a morale boost for a team looking to regain its footing in the league. The players seemed to channel their frustration from the controversial first-half goal into a determined and spirited performance, ultimately turning the game in their favor.
