Erik ten Hag condemned Andy Carroll on Tuesday for the tackle that has put Christian Eriksen out of action for up to three months, demanding more protection for his Manchester United stars.
Reading striker Carroll escaped punishment from referee Darren England for his lunge on Eriksen during Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Old Trafford, before being sent off for two fouls in five minutes on Tyrell Malacia and Casemiro.
Ten Hag believes all three of Carroll’s tackles were reckless and said they ‘don’t belong on a pitch’. The United manager also questioned why referee Robert Jones took no action against Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta when the striker caught Lisandro Martinez in the face with an elbow in their 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park a fortnight ago.