The Manchester United bench and Matthijs de Ligt were thrilled that Brentford were allowed to score while off the pitch in Saturday’s 2-1 comeback win.
The Dutchman was present for Ethan Pinnock’s header from a corner on the stroke of half-time, after he had been forced off to receive treatment for a head injury.
De Ligt was filmed abandoning his treatment and kicking a ball in fury after Pinnock’s goal as the bench descended into anarchy.
Erik ten Hag was booked for his argument with fourth official Gavin Ward and his assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy suffered the same fate after his animated protests towards him.
The United manager attributed the second-half comeback thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund to his “fury”, and coach Darren Fletcher also reportedly kicked in the tunnel.
Matthijs de Ligt kicked a ball in fury after Brentford scored while he was being treated.
Manchester United assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy vehemently protested this.
Erik ten Hag and Van Nistelrooy were booked for their reactions after being left with 10 men to defend the corner at the end of the first half, with De Ligt’s head covered in blood.
The Manchester United defender suffered a serious head collision and required treatment three times
De Ligt had suffered a serious head injury early in the match when he collided with the knee of Brentford striker Kevin Schade, leading to lengthy medical attention to stop the bleeding.
He had to leave for treatment for his blood-soaked head on two other occasions, one of which was just before half-time when Pinnock scored.
Boos echoed around Old Trafford, angry that referee Samuel Barrott had allowed the set piece to be taken forward.
The poison did not subside minutes after the goal. According to the Manchester Evening NewsUnited manager Fletcher “went furious” at fourth official Ward at half-time.
Ten Hag claimed that Manchester United’s “crazy, angry” players used the alleged injustice surrounding Brentford’s goal to inspire their comeback.
“We were angry about it, we were angry at half-time,” Ten Hag explained after their first Premier League win in over a month.
“It wasn’t perfect but we controlled the game. We didn’t concede any chances and we felt it was an injustice to concede them the way we did.
‘Every game we win is important and I think you can see the unity and fighting spirit in this team.
Coach Darren Fletcher also reportedly “became furious” with the fourth official in the tunnel.
Second-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund gave United the victory
Ten Hag credited the players’ ‘fury’ for how they conceded their inspired comeback.
“Today we added some determination to score goals and that’s what we need.”
When asked specifically why he and his coaching staff were so upset by the insistence that a bleeding De Ligt be forced off three times for treatment, Ten Hag doubled down on his reasons.
“It was dried blood,” he said. ‘So he was already treated and just dried blood, so none of us understood why he was expelled. I approached him and asked him.
“It was a great moment as Brentford are very good at corners and when you miss one of your best headers, of course you are disappointed.”
