Erik ten Hag reacts to Man United loss as Ralf Rangnick explains Cristiano Ronaldo penalty call
Erik ten Hag refused to comment on United’s latest defeat, insisting that his concentration this season is on Ajax. The 52-year-old took charge of his present team for the first time since being named manager of Manchester United.
Ten Hag led his squad to a 1-0 victory over NEC Nijmegen, bringing them one step closer to winning the Eredivisie. Ajax’s victory came just hours after Manchester United’s trip to Arsenal.
United was defeated 3-1 at the Emirates, their second loss of the week and third in the last four games. United’s chances of qualifying in the top four are all but over, having fallen six points behind Arsenal with four games remaining.
Ralf Rangnick explains why Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t take Manchester United’s penalty against Arsenal.
Cristiano Ronaldo turned down the chance to take Manchester United’s penalty against Arsenal, which Bruno Fernandes missed. Ronaldo had converted penalty kicks against Arsenal and Norwich earlier this season, but he missed his final opportunity in regulation time against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round. Despite this, Ronaldo converted in the shootout.
Fernandes stepped up but missed his second penalty of the season, squandering the opportunity to equalize. Fernandes was then to blame for Granit Xhaka’s game-winning goal in the 70th minute, which gave Arsenal a 3-1 victory. “I asked him after the game,” Rangnick said of Ronaldo’s choice not to take the penalty.
