'I totally ignore that' - Erik ten Hag bizarrely refuses to count Man Utd's loss to Tottenham because of referee error as under fire coach defends his side

Ten Hag dismissed the loss against Tottenham, attributing it to refereeing decisions rather than the team's performance, as his side continues to grapple with inconsistent form and setbacks. The Dutch tactician asserted that the decision to send off Bruno Fernandes, which was later reversed, fundamentally skewed the game’s course, leaving United disadvantaged early on and unable to respond effectively.

The clash with Tottenham began poorly for United, with Spurs taking the lead just three minutes in through Brennan Johnson’s goal. The situation worsened when Fernandes was shown a controversial red card for a tackle on James Maddison, leaving United down to 10 players for much of the match. Ange Postecoglou's men capitalised on United’s weakened defence, with Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke adding two more goals to complete the 3-0 victory.

Speaking to reporters, Ten Hag said: "I deny and ignore the game against Spurs because we were down to 10 at 1-0. That is not a fair assessment to the team to take this into consideration, because we didn't have the chance to bounce back."

United’s difficulties extend to European competitions as well. After the draw against Porto and Fenerbahce, the team have now gone a full year without securing a victory in continental tournaments, compounding the pressure on Ten Hag.

Nevertheless, the manager emphasised: "You see this team is resilient. The team is determined. Brentford, two tough away games in Europe - this team has character and shows fighting spirit and determination to win games."

United's record this season speaks of a broader struggle. The team has suffered three league defeats so far, with heavy losses to Tottenham, Liverpool and Brighton and their slender 2-1 win over Brentford remains their only victory in the last seven games across all competitions.

As United prepare to face West Ham on Sunday, Ten Hag will be keen to secure a much-needed victory to regain stability and calm the growing tensions surrounding his role. The team’s recent draw with Fenerbahce has done little to ease the strain on the manager, making the upcoming Premier League match even more crucial.