Erik ten Hag acknowledged that Casemiro “crossed the line” and was dismissed during Manchester United’s nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but the Dutchman feels that some Eagles players got off easy.
Following a VAR review, Casemiro was expelled for putting his hands around Will Hughes’ neck during an argument between both sets of players that was started by Jeffrey Schlupp’s push on Antony and led to a penalty kick from Bruno Fernandes and yet another goal from the in-form Marcus Rashford.
Schlupp then scored with 14 minutes remaining to set up a nervous finish, but United held on to earn their 13th straight victory at home in all competitions, matching their longest streak at Old Trafford since they won 20 straight games from December 2010 to September 2011.
Ten Hag had no issues with the decision to fire Casemiro, a brazilian player who will now miss United’s next three league games, but the former Ajax manager believed Jordan Ayew and other Palace players should have also received punishment.
“We played a brilliant game and it was a really high level first 70 minutes until the incident took place and then you see this team stands for each other,” he said.
“It’s such a good spirit in the team and they don’t accept when a player from us can be badly injured and that’s the way Antony got treated.
“This team sticks together but, of course, you have to control your emotions. But it’s really difficult in such a moment and I see two teams fighting each other.
“I see two teams of players crossing the line and then one player gets picked out, gets sent off. And for me, that’s not right.
“The player from Crystal Palace takes a big risk with this foul that he gets badly injured by pushing him across the line and you know the pitches here. And then everyone is reacting, Crystal Palace and Manchester United players, and not only Casemiro.
“He [Ayew] was one of the players who did even worse than Casemiro. Casemiro, you freeze the moment, I think within the shot he’s crossed the line there, I do definitely. And you have to be consistent as a VAR.
“Players and colleagues are hurting each other that bad like the player last week [Reading’s Andy Carroll] did against Christian Eriksen and the player from Crystal Palace [Schlupp]; he started this, he took a big risk by injuring Antony.”
United are back in action again on Wednesday when Leeds United visit Old Trafford, before the Red Devils travel to Yorkshire for the reverse fixture just four days later.