LONDON – The look of disbelief on Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag’s face on Wednesday when Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise curled a late free kick into the net said it all.

The Dutchman was on the cusp of becoming the first United manager since 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 Premier League, six points behind Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the leaders at the Emirates.

But then Olise cooled the title talk with a magical set piece that made it 1-1 and United paying the price for their lack of killer instinct.

The Red Devils will feel short-changed having controlled most of the game, although ten Hag said they had themselves to blame for not being hungry enough to add to Bruno Fernandes’ goal 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,” he said.

“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. It’s difficult to say why. I have to criticise my team.”

To add to United’s woes, they had a justifiable penalty claim turned away.

More damagingly, the influential Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was booked late on for a rash challenge and he will now be suspended for the trip to Arsenal.

Ten Hag, however, insisted there was no way he could leave out Casemiro against Palace regardless of any possible suspension.

“This game was important. Every game is important, every game in the Premier League is a top game,” he said.

“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.

“But last time we beat Arsenal (3-1 in September) without Casemiro, so we have a squad, so we have to fill that gap and make a proper plan.

“We already showed how to beat Arsenal, 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 added that the focus was now on the north Londoners.

“It happened. You can’t change it. We’re looking to Arsenal,” he said.

“The players have to make sure they’re ready. It’s fantastic to play such games.”

Just 24 hours after British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s firm Ineos declared its interest in buying United, the Red Devils’ boss is making the Old Trafford club more valuable to potential new owners by the day, regardless of this setback.

Palace beat United in south London on the final day of last season at the dismal culmination of Ralf Rangnick’s lacklustre reign as interim boss.

But United have been revitalised by ten Hag in the intervening eight months and the contrast between the two eras was evident.

However, there is still much work to do in attack, especially since Anthony Martial has been struggling with injuries this season and Cristiano Ronaldo has departed for Saudi Arabia.

Marcus Rashford was aiming to become the first United player since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003 to score in eight consecutive appearances, but his hot streak came to an end after failing to take his chances.

New loan signing Wout Weghorst made his debut, but his only sight of goal in his 70-minute appearance was a header onto the roof of the net.

While ten Hag tried to play down the loss of Casemiro for Sunday’s clash, goalkeeper David de Gea, who made a couple of crucial saves, admitted it was a bitter blow.

“Big blow to lose Casemiro for Sunday,” he said.

“Now we are missing one of our best players. We miss him for a big game and it is a big loss for us.”
REUTERS, AFP