Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could not resist firing a cheeky dig at Chelsea over his last visit to Stamford Bridge when he was Ajax boss.
The Dutch outfit drew 4-4 with the Blues in a Champions League tie in 2019, with the Premier League side being awarded a controversial spot-kick after defender Joel Veltman was alleged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area.
The referee opted against awarding Ajax a free-kick for a foul on ex-United man Daley Blind, with Chelsea going down to the other end of the pitch and winning a penalty.
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Following this, the official went back and booked both Veltman and Blind, which meant that the away side were reduced to just nine players.
Asked about his experience of playing against Chelsea previously, Ten Hag told United’s website: "I hope we don’t experience tomorrow playing with 12 [people on the other team]. If we play with 11, I think we have a good chance to win."
The Dutchman was appearing to reference the controversial refereeing performance at Stamford Bridge three years - and he doesn't seem to be over it just yet.
Speaking after the 4-4 draw in 2019, Ten Hag said: "I am very disappointed with this result, not only today but also for two weeks ago. Some decisions were not on our side and I think we could have had four points and instead we have only one – and I think we deserved certainly four points.
"But some decisions were out of our power and went against us, and we have only one point. I think we played magnificently, we had to play better on the ball and we did. We dictated the game and were leading 4-1 and even at 4-2 we were in control of the game.
"And then in one moment in the game everything changes. I think it’s a foul on Daley Blind and then he fouls because he was fouled, and then the handball, and then two yellows which becomes two reds, and then a penalty.
"I think we got punished several times, first Daley Blind, then Joel Veltman, the penalty and then also for the next game they are suspended. So that’s what disappoints me.
"Have I ever seen something like that before? No! I think when you have VAR, like we have, and which is good, then you think that can’t happen. But it happened. And it happened in Amsterdam, not getting a penalty, and it’s happened now again. We deserved to win tonight, with 11 and also with nine."
United can move above Chelsea in the Premier League table with a victory over Graham Potter's side on Saturday evening, with the Blues currently one point above the Reds.
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