Erik ten Hag fumes at officials after Jules Kounde avoids a red card for taking down Marcus Rashford

Erik ten Hag accused referee Maurizio Mariani of folding under pressure at the Nou Camp by not sending off Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

Ten Hag was furious that the Italian official took no action when Kounde appeared to bring down Marcus Rashford in the 64th minute.

Replays showed that contact was made just outside the penalty box, but the United manager thought it was still deserving of a red card.

‘The refereeing had a big influence in this game,’ said Ten Hag. ‘It’s a red card. Rashford is one on one with the keeper.

‘I asked the referee why. He said it was no foul. We had the VAR and it is not good. Maybe they are influenced by the pressure.

‘We can discuss if it’s inside the box or outside the box, but definitely it’s a red card.

‘The linesman and referee were in a very good position to see. I think it’s not good, it was a really bad decision. They can’t be on the high European level.’

Rashford was also incredulous that no action was taken over the incident which came shortly after he had scored United’s first goal and had a hand in the second.

The England forward described it as a ‘massive moment’, adding: ‘I haven’t watched it back, but I don’t understand why the linesman or the referee thinks I am going down there.

‘I have touched it past him, my foot is in front of the ball and he hits my leg. It is clear contact and was 100 per cent a foul.’

Both Ten Hag and Rashford agreed that the game was an excellent spectacle to whet the appetite ahead of next week’s second leg at Old Trafford.

‘If the game is like this, I can imagine everyone will want to see that game,’ said Ten Hag.

‘You face the No.1 in Spain in an away game and you are that dominant. I think we should have scored a minimum four goals.’

Rashford added: ‘It felt like a loss. But hopefully the second leg is going to be another good game and we can go that one step further.’