Erik ten Hag has been hit by a touchline ban as the pressure of Manchester United’s season told in a nervy 1-0 win against Premier League minnows Luton.
Ten Hag received his third booking of the season after hotly disputing two late throws during eight minutes of injury-time at Old Trafford.
His dissent towards the officials including referee Graham Scott means the Dutchman is automatically banned for United’s next Premier League game away to Everton on November 26 in a clear sign how testing things have been with the team bottom of their Champions League group after a midweek defeat to Copenhagen.
Investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also close to buying a 25 per cent stake which will give him some control over football operations.
Explaining his outburst, Ten Hag said after the win earned by defender Victor Lindelof’s second-half winner: ‘It was about a moment so clear, a throw-in, but it was the second time.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will not be on the touchline against Everton in a fortnight
The Dutch manager picked up his third booking of the season during his side’s win over Luton
‘I was on top of where it happened and was so clear and obvious our ball, I made a remark and therefore I got booked.
‘There is a certain point you have to accept decisions, what I should do as well.’
Ten Hag – whose other two cautions came in matches against Arsenal and Spurs – quipped he wouldn’t fine himself because he only fines players if they get red cards and there was also huge relief that United reached the final whistle in Sir Alex Ferguson’s first visit to the stadium since the death of his wife, Lady Cathy, last month.
But there may be further injury problems with Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund substituted during the game and ten Hag crossing they fingers they don’t join a lengthy casualty list that already includes Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Eriksen was withdrawn after 40 minutes after appearing to hurt his knee while Hojlund departed near the end with muscular discomfort.
‘At this moment, I can’t say anything about it (Hojlund) because I don’t know. We do an assessment but have to wait for 24 hours to see the conclusion. Give the medical team to see what is the problem, if there is a problem.
‘You don’t want to lose any player and is the same for Christian Erisken, but this is also our season, so many injuries. We’ve talked about it many times, (it affects) the routine levels in your team. Hopefully the players coming back and the new injuries are not too bad.
On Eriksen, who may have twisted his knee, the manager added: ‘He slipped but it is the same. We have to do an assessment, then we will know where we are.’
The silver lining is that United are now within three points off a top-four place and ten Hag feels their margin of victory should have been bigger against Luton. ‘We have four 100 per cent chances,’ he said.
