Erik ten Hag fumed about inconsistent officiating after Casemiro’s second red card in five weeks left Manchester United clinging on to a point against rock-bottom Southampton.
Having bounced back from the seven-goal shellacking at Liverpool with a 4-1 win against Real Betis in the Europa League, the Red Devils had to show their character again.
Casemiro was sent off in the 34th minute after VAR Andre Marriner advised referee Anthony Taylor to review the challenge on Saints midfielder Carlos Alcaraz on the pitchside monitor.
Ten Hag was angered by that decision and some penalty calls as United dug deep to stave off impressive Southampton’s threat in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
“Well, what I think is the inconsistency (means) players don’t know any more what is the policy,” the United boss said on Casemiro’s sending off.
“I think it’s all across. I mean, you see yesterday, Leicester-Chelsea, then VAR is not coming on the line.
“Today it’s coming on the line and then it’s two penalty situations, but they don’t come on the line.
“I think especially the first one was for me clear and obvious handball, so what is the policy?”
ℹ️ The details of Casemiro's suspension have been outlined.#MUFC || #MUNSOU
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 12, 2023
Ten Hag said they had “some questions” about the officiating on Sunday, when Casemiro picked up his second red card as a United player.
The 31-year-old picked up the first straight red of his time in Europe’s top leagues in last month’s 2-1 win against Crystal Palace and is now facing a four-match ban for his sending off.
“There is another one inconsistent,” Ten Hag said. “The refereeing is coming at the start of the season with a policy ‘we are Premier League, we are going strong here, we want intensity’.
“Casemiro is across European leagues, in over 500 games he had never a red card and now he has twice.
“He plays tough but he plays fair, also in this he is playing fair. Same as against Crystal Palace, so it is very debatable.
“When you freeze it looks bad, but everyone who knows something about football, who is acting on top football, they know what is bad and what isn’t bad, what is fair.
“I tell you Casemiro is a really fair player. Tough but fair and it shows over 500 games in big leagues, never sent off.”
Casemiro is understandably gutted and Ten Hag said “we have to consider that overnight” how to play without him in their next four domestic games.
Ten Hag replied “we will see” when asked if United will appeal a decision that left United playing the best part of an hour with 10 men.
A look at the numbers 📊@eToro | #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/EA53v8PY5e
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 12, 2023
“Once again this team showed big spirit, team spirit, good fighting spirit, supporting each other,” said the Dutchman, who downplayed Alejandro Garnacho’s injury after he was seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches with his right foot in a boot.
“We played I think with 11 and with 10 a really good level.
“We played in the week, they didn’t. We were with 10 and we defended well, we had good counter breaks, we had some good attacks, some good opportunities.
“The strike from Bruno (Fernandes) on the post. Of course I have also seen the strike from them on the post and that was a mistake on counter from a corner from us one-on-one when David (De Gea) saved.
A point on the road. A whisker away from all three.
Our verdict on a breathless encounter at Old Trafford:— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 12, 2023
“But all in all the performance was quite well, then you are disappointed you only collect one point.”
Saints shared that frustration after failing to turn a largely dominant performance into a victory as Ruben Selles’ side fight to beat the drop.
“We take the game in two parts,” the Southampton manager said. “The first part is about the result. We are not happy. We talk about coming here and winning the game and do our best to win the game.
“That is what we did so we are not happy with the point.
“But we are really happy with the performance we put on the pitch and we showed the character 11 against 11, and against 10 men.
“We showed identity, the principles we have in our game and we saw a team working together, wanting to be together, wanting to get something from the game.
“So, disappointed about the point but very happy with the performance.”
