Manchester United, led by Erik ten Hag, has had a rocky start to the season, highlighted by an incident during their recent Premier League match against Brentford.
In a spirited yet risky attempt, defender Matthijs de Ligt tried to win a header in a contested area but ended up colliding head-first with Brentford’s Kevin Schade’s knee.
Matthijs de Ligt is receiving attention for a head injury after colliding with Kevin Schade’s knee. #MUNBRE pic.twitter.com/WUQtMdwPWj
— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) October 19, 2024
The foul was ruled against United, and De Ligt had to receive medical attention due to the severity of the injury.
The incident left De Ligt bloodied, reminiscent of a wrestling match, though he has experienced similar injuries before in his career.
While this was unfolding, teammate Alejandro Garnacho and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo nearly knocked over the medical staff while contesting for the ball nearby, adding to the chaotic scene.
United fans likely wished for a break from the drama as De Ligt needed further treatment due to continuing bleeding, leading to a second exit from the pitch. Things took a turn for the worse when the injury reopened in first-half stoppage time.
This led to De Ligt leaving just as a corner was conceded, from which Ethan Pinnock scored the opening goal, igniting frustration among United’s players and staff, including Ten Hag, who received a yellow card along with Jonny Evans for their reactions.
The Sporting News is covering the match with live updates and a summary available for fans.