Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag criticises referee over Marcus Rashford incident vs Barcelona

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was left seething over referee Maurizio Mariani's decision not to send off Barcelona defender Jules Kounde for a challenge on Marcus Rashford.

With United 2-1 up in the 64th minute, Rashford appeared to be bundled over by Kounde when he was racing towards goal but a foul was not given by Mariani and Barcelona equalised through Raphinha in the 76th minute.

Ten Hag was booked for remonstrating with the officials but was strident in his criticism of the referee, the linesman and the Video Assistant Referee for failing to dismiss Kounde for a professional foul.

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"Also if I make make a point that has a big influence not only on this game but on this round, at 2-1, it was a clear foul on Marcus Rashford. We can discuss if it's inside the box or outside the box, but definitely it's a red card.

"Yes, I asked the referee why. So he said it was outside the box and it was no foul. And the linesman and referee were in a very good position to see and I think we had VAR. I think it's not good, it was a really bad decision. I can't understand.

"Maybe they were impressed by the pressure Barca made but they can't be [like that at] the highest European level.

"The situation with Rashford is at 2-1, the momentum in the game is totally different. I heard it was a ball on the hand (by a United player in the penalty area), so maybe two mistakes.

"But you can't equalise such mistakes because the moment in the game, in the whole round, was an important decision where he was wrong."

Barcelona took the lead through Marcos Alonso's header in the 50th minute but United struck twice within ten minutes through Rashford and a Kounde own goal.

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