‘We have to learn, get better,’ says United’s Ten Hag after defeat
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag emphasized the need for his team to learn from their humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and focus on self-improvement.
The loss, United’s third in six league matches, has left them sitting in 11th place, piling pressure on Ten Hag as time begins to run out for the Dutchman.
“We definitely need to learn and improve,” Ten Hag said in his post-match interview. “We must get better at pressing and being more composed on the ball. There were moments where we could have played better, found the spare man, or bypassed the press to maintain possession.”
He expressed his disappointment, adding, “We didn’t execute that well, and it’s frustrating.”
When asked about the team’s progress, Ten Hag refrained from discussing it after such a defeat. “We need to deal with this loss, show resilience, and focus on our next match against Porto. Let’s close this chapter, address it, and move on.”
Tottenham dominated from the outset, with Brennan Johnson scoring after just three minutes following an impressive run by Micky Van de Ven. Reflecting on United’s sluggish performance, Ten Hag admitted, “It was a poor start. Tottenham were dominant; we couldn’t apply the right press and made too many errors in possession.”
He noted that the red card changed the momentum of the game, though he disagreed with the decision, stating, “I don’t think it was a red card.”
Regarding the first half, Ten Hag added, “It wasn’t good enough. We allowed a player to dribble through our entire team and cross. Our pressing was ineffective, and our decision-making was poor. We lost confidence and were sloppy in possession, but we all know we can do better.”
Despite the mounting pressure, United’s new football leadership extended Ten Hag’s contract less than three months ago. However, with challenging fixtures against Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League next weekend, followed by an international break, speculation about the manager’s future is intensifying. During the second half, United fans chanted, “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” signaling their frustration with the team’s form.
How quickly the club leadership might reconsider their decision to back Ten Hag remains to be seen.