Erik ten Hag gives view on controversial Man City goal in derby defeat

Erik ten Hag has labelled the decision to award Phil Foden's equaliser in the Manchester derby "debatable" after a supposed foul on Marcus Rashford in the build-up.

Ten Hag's side fought valiantly at the Etihad Stadium against Man City on Sunday, even taking a 1-0 lead into half-time thanks to stunning effort from Rashford inside the opening ten minutes of the game.

City's territorial dominance of the game eventually told in the second half however, with Foden bagging a stunning brace to give the home side the lead before Erling Haaland pounced on a Sofyan Amrabat effort to make it 3-1 before the full-time whistle.

Man City's equaliser, a thumping effort from Foden which rocketed into the top left corner of the net, drummed up plenty of debate online due to an apparent foul in the lead up to the goal. Full-back Kyle Walker appeared to be dragged to the ground when racing down the left flank, an action which led to City winning back possession and Foden scoring his first of the game.

Ten Hag was notably furious immediately after the goal, earning himself a yellow card from referee Andy Madley for his protestations.

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Speaking after the game, the manager insisted that there was contact between Walker and Rashford: "I looked back and asked Rashy [Rashford] if there was contact, maybe soft but there was contact," Ten Hag told the BBC.

The manager also said something similar to Sky Sports: "It is very debatable, I think there was contact and it is a defining moment of the game. also at 2-1 there's a reckless action from City's goalkeeper. It was soft, but when you're in a full sprint and you get a little touch you lose the rhythm and that's why he went down."

Giving an assessment of his team's performance in the defeat, Ten Hag said that the Red Devils were unfortunate to not come away with a point: "I think it was a good performance overall, we went 1-0 up and we had our moments after it to score the second one.

"We defended very well and there were two defining moments when we nearly made a breakthrough and conceded the first goal.

"Then you are disappointed, we have to accept it and still were had the opportunities to at least get one point, but the win was also possible."