Blood and injustice: How Manchester United got ‘mad’ and back to winning ways

A day after Erik ten Hag had gone on the attack over reports of his demise, his Manchester United players used their own sense of injustice to fuel a fightback that will have greater influence over the narrative at Old Trafford.

A manager under scrutiny is entitled to counter-punch and in his press conference ahead of facing Brentford, Ten Hag accused journalists of writing fairytales about his future. Equating the press pack with Hans Christian Andersen is a sure-fire way to endear yourself to the fanbase and, having been questioned for much of his two-year reign, Ten Hag doubtless feels he has to project total strength in crucial moments.

Words only go so far, though. Results are what will dictate the reality of Ten Hag’s tenure.

Beating Thomas Frank’s side at home on Saturday was a start but it didn’t come without jeopardy. Indeed, at its core was an episode of gore that imbued Ten Hag and his players with a burning desire to turn things around. That it featured one of the managers’ key signings, whose leadership origin story dates back to their days together at Ajax, only heightened the drama.

Early in the game, Matthijs de Ligt took a novel approach to defending by planting his head into the knee of opponent Kevin Schade as the ball bounced outside the area. With blood pouring down his face, looking like he had made an early start to his Halloween costume, as a result of that collision, De Ligt was forced to the sidelines for treatment as the game continued.

United’s medics chose to try to stem the bleeding by clogging the wound with a jelly-like substance rather than wrapping a bandage around the Dutchman’s head, due to the awkward position of the cut. But into first-half stoppage time, referee Sam Barrott ushered De Ligt off again as it reopened. Rules ban players from continuing with bloody gashes.

De Ligt returned, only to be directed off again by Barrott when Brentford won a corner in the final seconds before the break. De Ligt flapped his arms in irritation and then, as he was being tended to, watched Ethan Pinnock escape Diogo Dalot to head in the opening goal. De Ligt swivelled and booted one of the pitchside balls into the advertising boards.

Afterwards, Ten Hag said: “It was dry blood, so he was already treated for the injury. I didn’t understand why he was sent off. A huge moment, because Brentford is very good at corners and you miss one of your best headers of the ball.”

The blood’s viscosity was not a consideration for Barrott but United complained at the timing and circumstance of the official’s implementation of the rules. Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy steps down the touchline to confront fourth official Gavin Ward. Ten Hag directed his anger that way too. Both received guarantees from Barrott in response.

“Definitely we were mad and angry at half-time,” said Ten Hag afterwards. “We felt some injustice and used it as fuel.”

Blame for the concession could go to United’s defending of Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner, or the physios for failing to stop the bleeding the first time, or Ten Hag for declining to simply replace De Ligt. Victor Lindelof immediately got ready to come on when De Ligt initially went down, but Ten Hag was told by his compatriot that he could continue.

There is trust between them since Ten Hag made De Ligt his captain, at age 18, in an intriguing manner.

The pivotal date is March 4, 2018, as Ajax travelled to Vitesse Arnhem needing to win to keep up faint hopes of catching PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie title race. Ten Hag had taken over early in the January, winning four of his first six league matches and drawing two others.

But he tasted his first Ajax loss that day in Arnhem, to a side who had a young Mason Mount, now of United, playing for them on loan from Chelsea. As people began to drift into the Ajax changing room following the 3-2 defeat, several players talked about what had gone against them. They complained about the officiating, which they felt had been skewed towards the hosts. Some pointed out the pitch was awkward to play on. Others felt the weather had been detrimental to their style.

Then De Ligt entered and he did not like what he was hearing. Despite his teenage years, he told his older team-mates to stop blaming other factors and instead look at their own performances, as he would do. He said the only way Ajax would become champions is by improving individually and collectively, rather than pointing fingers.

De Ligt had broken into the side the previous season and started the Europa League final, against United, as a 17-year-old, so had some status but this was still a bold move given his age. Ten Hag was greatly impressed by what he considered to be a winning mentality and had an idea.

The next day, having slept on it, he told his coaches that he was going to make the kid captain of Ajax, feeling his unflinching attitude should be recognised. During that morning’s training session, the manager informed his squad.

Six days later, De Ligt led Ajax out at Johan Cruyff Arena for the visit of Heerenveen and opened the scoring with a header after winning the ball in midfield and continuing his run into the box to meet a floated pass by Hakim Ziyech. Ajax went on to win 4-1, although they ultimately lost the title race to PSV.

The next season was one of the best in Ajax’s modern history. They won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup (Dutch football’s FA Cup equivalent), and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, knocking out Real Madrid and Juventus along the way and playing thrilling football before a stunning late meltdown at home against Tottenham cost them a place in the final.

Following spells with Juventus and Bayern Munich since, De Ligt’s start to his United career since being signed this summer has been somewhat checkered. He scored away to Southampton, ghosting into the box as he had done in his first game as Ajax captain, but had such a chaotic performance in the 3-3 at Porto in the Europa League that Ten Hag felt compelled to take him out of the starting line-up for the subsequent trip to Aston Villa.

De Ligt’s injury yesterday was the result of once again engaging early with a situation and being a split-second late.

But his determination to stay on echoes what Ten Hag saw in Arnhem over six years ago and De Ligt did his bit after the break. Late in the game, his aggressive approach won United the ball on the wing and he carried possession down the same touchline where he had earlier shown such fury, eventually crossing so Alejandro Garnacho could test Mark Flekken with a shot.

By that stage, Garnacho’s volley from Marcus Rashford’s brilliant cross and Rasmus Hojlund’s deft finish from a Bruno Fernandes flicked assist had swung the points United’s way. They had come out flying for the second half, proof that these players are still trying for their manager — even those who have experienced friction at times. Rashford was energised in and out of possession and could have had at least three more assists. Casemiro also had a very good game.

Ten Hag’s selection choices paid off, too. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were starting their first Premier League game alongside Fernandes since September last year — the 3-1 home loss to Brighton — but here, the partnership worked. Lisandro Martinez was near faultless as the makeshift left-back.

Match-going United fans have largely stayed with Ten Hag and his team as well. Hundreds remained afterwards outside Old Trafford for photos. De Ligt, once his wound was fully cleaned up, was one of those who obliged them.

The big caveat is that Ten Hag needs consistent performances like this against the best teams. Only then will his relationship with United truly have hope of ending happily ever after.

(Top photo: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)