Related: ‘Football is never meant to be like this’: Ten Hag angered by VAR decisions

Of Ten Hag, Højlund said: “A really good coach. He cares about every single detail and he helps me a lot, gives me a lot of confidence and supports me. I think every player in the dressing room supports him. I hope it is just a matter of time [before United will be successful]. The first 30 minutes today was some of the best football we have been playing this season.”

United were 2-0 up at Parken thanks to Højlund’s goals before Marcus Rashford’s red card proved pivotal, the forward stepping on Elias Jelert’s ankle near the United area.

Donatus Rumsas was directed to the pitchside screen by the VAR to review the challenge and sent off Rashford on 43 minutes. Ten Hag called the decision “harsh” and three minutes later Mohamed Elyounoussi scored a goal that United’s manager claimed should have been ruled out owing to an offside Copenhagen player being in the eyeline of the goalkeeper André Onana.

Ten Hag also said Diogo Gonçalves’s penalty, which levelled the scores in the ninth added minute of the first half, should not have been given for handball against Harry Maguire. Højlund said: “We need a little luck at the moment. We miss the small things.”

United retook the lead in the second half via Bruno Fernandes’s penalty before late goals from Lukas Lerager and Roony Bardghji consigned them to another defeat. Ten Hag’s side are a point behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen, with the same goal difference as the former and with a worse one than the latter. They play at Galatasaray next before hosting Bayern Munich.

Højlund, asked how he felt about scoring against his first club, said: “Not so good. A special game for me. It was nice to score two goals but having said that it is a shame that we concede a red card because we were playing very well in the first 20-25 minutes. It was very special for me to hear the FC Copenhagen hymn before the match of course but I am playing for Manchester United so that is the team I hope win every match.

“It is irritating and frustrating [scoring and losing], but I cannot do so much about it. That’s how football is. I will bring some confidence to the next games but it is all about winning and I cannot stand here with my arms above my head [celebrating] after we just lost a match.”