"Absolutely not," says Ten Hag, refuting the notion that United are significantly lagging behind City following their derby loss.
Erik ten Hag dismissed the suggestion that Manchester United's 3-1 loss to Manchester City indicated a significant gap between the two teams. He argued that with alternate officiating decisions regarding Phil Foden's goals, United could have potentially secured a different outcome. Despite Marcus Rashford's early goal giving United the lead, City controlled much of the game, with Foden's goals in the 56th and 80th minutes propelling them to victory, sealed by Erling Haaland's late strike in added time for Pep Guardiola's team.
Ten Hag argued that Kyle Walker's challenge on Rashford before Foden's first goal was a foul, and he also highlighted Ederson's challenge on Alejandro Garnacho, which was deemed fair before City took the lead. Despite City's dominance with 27 shots compared to United's three and enjoying 73.7% possession, Ten Hag rejected the notion that the loss showcased a significant gap between the two teams. He emphasized United's injury struggles and highlighted the narrow margins in the game, noting Rashford's confirmation of contact with Walker as soft. Ten Hag pointed out the potential for a second goal for United in a contentious moment but lamented the subsequent concession after an incident involving City's goalkeeper. He emphasized that when United have all players available, they can be competitive, citing the close nature of their previous encounters, such as the Cup final last May, where they lost 2-1. However, he acknowledged City's current status as the best team in the world.
City's win leaves them just one point behind Liverpool, who are on 63 points ahead of their upcoming clash at Anfield on Sunday. Arsenal sit on 58 points with a game in hand, while Aston Villa follow closely with 55 points. Guardiola stressed that there are still many points up for grabs and various positions to compete for among the top contenders in the Premier League title race. He focused on the immediate task at hand, stating that the Champions League match against Copenhagen takes priority, with his mind solely on that fixture for the time being. After Wednesday's game, he will then shift his focus to the subsequent challenges in the league.
Guardiola responded to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments, expressing pride in City's ability to maintain their performance and desire despite challenges. He highlighted Phil Foden's winning mentality and praised his contributions in recovering possession during key moments in the game, emphasizing the team's consistent effort in every match.
Regarding Foden's performance, Guardiola believes he is currently the best player in the Premier League this season, attributing it to his work ethic and ability to impact games positively. Kyle Walker echoed this sentiment, praising Foden's excellence and describing him as a "sniper" for his precise finishing.
Despite Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford sustaining injuries during the match, Ten Hag remains hopeful that they will both recover in time for Everton's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
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