September 19, 2024
Sunday’s loss to Liverpool was a miserable day for Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag. Arne Slot’s side were 3-0 up with an hour gone, prompting many home fans at Old Trafford to leave long before the final whistle.
Ten Hag’s future had become increasingly uncertain as last season went on but, after beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup in May, the club’s hierarchy decided to stick with the Dutchman after conducting a review.
With some exciting young players at the club, Ten Hag has stressed that Manchester United are in a transitional phase. Erik ten Hag speaks to Sky Sports after Manchester United’s defeat
“We made mistakes and they were very clinical at finishing. All three goals are mistakes from us, individual errors. Liverpool did brilliant in turnover and how they finished.
“It’s clear and deserving for Liverpool. We have to be humble and take this, and improve our game. When you are 2-0 down against Liverpool, they are so brutal that you have to take more risks. That was my assessment. I have to give a compliment to the team because they kept fighting.”
With some exciting young players at the club, Ten Hag has stressed that Manchester United are in a transitional phase. He adds: “Casemiro knows the game. He will go on, we will go on. He is a great player and we will continue to improve the team and improve the players. He’s showed so often that he is a great character. We have all seen great moments from him, and he will bounce back.
Manchester United finished 22 points behind Liverpool last season. With their result on Sunday, it will be difficult to suggest that they will not be as far behind as that again this season.
Ten Hag comments on their play pattern and his hope for improvement: “I don’t have the feeling that we are in the same pattern, because I didn’t see it. We were sometimes open because we took risks. Well done Liverpool, we have to be humble.
“There are many games to play. We will go for trophies. In two years, we’ve taken two prizes. At the end of the season, we will see where we are. Today it was the first start for Matthijs de Ligt, first start for Joshua Zirkzee. We’ve still got more players not available.”
The defeat means Manchester United have now lost three of their last five Premier League home games against Liverpool. United have also lost two of their opening three matches of a Premier League campaign for the third time in the last five seasons. This is his third season at Old Trafford, guiding them to a third-place finish in 2022-23 and then eighth last season.
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