The penalty changed the game — Ten Hag suggests Man United lost due to contentious referee decision

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag believes the Red Devils played well and according to their gameplan in the heavy defeat to Manchester City and believes the penalty call that led to the Cityzens first goal swung momentum against his team.

Ten Hag’s side suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to their crosstown rivals in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford, thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland and a Phil Foden strike.

Manchester City took the lead in the 26th minute of the game thanks to a Haaland strike from the penalty spot after Rodri was deemed to have been fouled during a corner-kick routine.

The decision befuddled many, who cited that slight roughhousing is the norm in corner kicks and that there is a lack of consistency in awarding such spot-kicks.

Ten Hag seemed to also have felt hard done by, and he had this to say in his post-match presser:

"I think first half we played very well,” Ten Hag said, per the BBC.

“The game plan was what we wanted and defended very good, closing spaces and keeping them away from the goal. 

“There was one big save from Andre but we had opportunities from two or three big breaks. we need to take benefit from it. We have to take more. The penalty changes the game. I don't have a comment on it."

Meanwhile, despite an overwhelming amount of reports claiming Lionel Messi as the winner of France Football’s Ballon d’Or, the magazine remains tight-lipped leading up to the gala but has inadvertently revealed the players who made the podium.