Aheed Abrar
Erik ten Hag laments the poor disciplinary record at Manchester United this season
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has lamented the poor disciplinary record that the Red Devils have this season. The Old Trafford side have received 23 yellow cards overall in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
During the Manchester derby on 2 October, Diogo Dalot received a yellow card just in the second minute for a foul on Jack Grealish. Tyrell Malacia was also booked for a foul on Phil Foden in the first half.
Speaking to the media via Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag feels United have been unlucky in receiving certain yellow cards. The Dutch manager believes that it hinders the way the Red Devils want to approach the game.
“Like we have too many bookings and some in the start of Premier League, they play tough but I wonder why we collect so many bookings and I don’t understand.
“Like the first booking on Sunday, I really don’t understand. We want to play tough, we want to keep the game going and then in the second minute already it’s a booking for Diogo.
The Portuguese right-back picked up his fourth yellow in the league in the 6-3 loss against Manchester City. Thus, Dalot is another booking away from being suspended. Scott McTominay has also gotten in the referee’s book four times this season in the English top flight.
Bruno Fernandes has been yellow-carded three times as well. The Portuguese has a nasty streak about him. And at the Etihad Stadium, the 28-year-old picked up a booking for dissent, which is not uncommon for him.
Harry Maguire is also on the verge of being suspended. However, the 29-year-old has not played a big part in Ten Hag’s team in recent weeks.
Lisandro Martinez is another aggressive character in the team. The Argentine has been careful, though. But the 24-year-old looks like a player who could go in the book every game,
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Fortunately, United have not received a red card yet this season. The Red Devils have done well in that regard. But we still need to play smarter and stop picking up silly yellows.
September is congested with fixtures. And suspensions for the accumulation of bookings are just another headache for the manager. United face Everton at Goodison Park next in the PL on 9 October.
