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LONDON. — The look of disbelief on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s face when Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise curled a stoppage-time free-kick into the net said it all on Wednesday night.
Dutchman Ten Hag was on the cusp of becoming the first Manchester United manager since the great Sir Alex Ferguson in 2009 to win 10 successive games as his side led 1-0 at Selhurst Park in the 91st minute.
Another couple of minutes and United would have gone second in the English Premier League, six points behind Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the leaders.
But then Olise cooled the title talk with a magical free-kick that left David De Gea clawing at thin air and United paying the price for a lack of killer instinct.
United will feel short-changed having controlled large swathes of the game, although Ten Hag said they had themselves to blame for not being hungry enough to add to the lead given to them by Bruno Fernandes late in the first half.
“We have to invest more to get that second goal and then not be in that situation that a lucky moment costs you two points,” Ten Hag told the BBC. “We were 1-0 up. In the second half we had a lot of space to kill them and go for the second.
“I never saw we really went for the second goal.”
To add to United’s woes they had a justifiable penalty claim turned away and, more damagingly, influential Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was booked late on for a rash challenge and he will now be suspended for the trip to Arsenal.
“He’s a really important player for us and a reason we’re in this position,” Ten Hag said.
“But last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro.
“We need to do it again.”
Despite the disappointment, United’s run of form has lifted them to a position few imagined was possible earlier this season and Ten Hag said the focus was now on Arsenal.
“It happened. You can’t change it. We’re looking to Arsenal and to make a proper plan.
“The players have to make sure they’re ready. It’s fantastic to play such games.”
While Ten Hag tried to play down the loss of Casemiro for Sunday’s clash, keeper David De Gea admitted it was a bitter blow and he also questioned why United were playing in midweek.
“Big blow to lose Casemiro for Sunday. I don’t get it why Arsenal don’t play as we have to play in the same week and they don’t,” he said. “Now we are missing one of our best players.
“I don’t understand. Now we miss him for a big game and it is a big loss for us.”
But Ten Hag claimed he was right to start Casemiro in Manchester United’s draw at Crystal Palace even though the midfielder picked up a booking that rules him out of Sunday’s showdown with Arsenal.
Casemiro will serve a one-match ban following his fifth yellow card this term, for chopping down Palace’s Wilfried Zaha in the 80th minute.
United looked poised to move into second spot in the Premier League after Fernandes fired in the opener late in the first half, but Olise’s stoppage-time free-kick denied the visitors.
Casemiro’s booking is a major blow to third placed United as they prepare to face English Premier League leaders Arsenal, who sit eight points clear of Ten Hag’s men.
But the United manager said there was no way he could leave out Casemiro against Palace regardless of any possible suspension.
“This game was important. Every game is important,” Ten Hag said after United’s nine-match winning run came to an end.
“Every game in the Premier League is a top game.
“Casemiro is obviously a really important player for us, and he is one of the reasons that we are in the position that we are now. That’s Casemiro.
“But last time we beat Arsenal without Casemiro, so we have a squad, so we have to fill that gap and make a proper plan and the squad have to fill it and make sure that there is a team.
“We already showed how to beat Arsenal.”
Casemiro came on as a late substitute in United’s 3-1 victory over the Gunners in September, with Marcus Rashford’s brace and an Antony strike making the difference at Old Trafford. — AFP.
Online Reporter