Ten Hag Insists His Game Plan Was Good Against City

Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has backed the game plan he deployed in his side’s Derby defeat to Manchester City yesterday.

United suffered a 3-0 disappointing Derby loss at Old Trafford courtesy of a brace from Erling Haaland and a lone goal from Phil Foden – further compounding their abysmal start to the season.

“The game plan in the first half was very disciplined and then you see how successful it can be,” Ten Hag said post-match.

He added: “We made an error for the second goal, we made a mistake. A wrong decision by going up to the keeper at the wrong moment.

“We did not recover quickly and they can switch the play, our players are in the wrong positions and they make a great goal.

“We went out of shape and got killed by that but the first half was so perfect as we defended so well.”

The former Ajax manager also spoke about the defeat generally, imploring his to deal with the setback instantly, not forgetting their Carabao Cup fixture against Newcastle on Wednesday.

“When you play against this team, everything has to be perfect. So you don’t need help but also you don’t want anything against you. Today was not our day.

“We have to accept that but don’t forget the game plan was very good in the first half. It hurts a lot. As you say, losing the derby is horrible.

“It could have been going a different way but it didn’t. Now you have to deal with it. Accept it, how it is, and, in 24 hours, you have to get up and go to the next game [Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday],” Erik Ten Hag said.