A FURIOUS Erik Ten Hag has laid into his players after yesterday’s 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
The result was United’s second successive defeat at home and sees them open the season with four Premier League defeats from their first seven games played.
Joachim Andersen’s 25 minute volley was enough to defeat The Red Devils with United never really making enough clear-cut chances to get back into the game.
Speaking to Match of The Day after the game, Ten Hag said: “It’s a bad start to the season.
“We have to catch up. We have to do better. This is not good enough.
“These players can do better in the final part [of the pitch].
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“I’m very disappointed. If you concede three chances and one is in after bad defending….
“Our decisions on the ball were really poor. We often got into good positions but we were not clinical enough.
“The decision making was not good enough. The final pass, extra pass, shot or whatever…”
United were booed off by their fans at full-time and their record of four league defeats from an opening seven games is their worst return since 1989.
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And Ten Hag admitted his fans’ boos were warranted.
He said: “I understand. We played at home and we play Crystal Palace we have to win and with all respect. I know every game in the Premier League is difficult, you have to play your best but I understand fans expect a win and we didn’t win, we lost.”
On the team’s record of four defeats from their opening seven he admitted his side cannot afford to waste any time as they look to find consistency, saying: “Of course, that is the concern [that this could be the pattern for United’s season] and we have to be more consistent.
“So there is not a demand for Man United; the demand is that we get a row of wins and we have to do better than we do now.
“I can give you reasons (for the defeat) but you will explain it as an excuse and there are no excuses. We have to win.”
United return to home action in two days when they take on Galatasaray in the Champions League.
But unfortunately for Ten Hag it is not just on-field issues that are plaguing him at the moment.
Winger Antony will return to full training tomorrow but his future is uncertain amid investigations into his alleged assault of ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin.
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And Jadon Sancho remains exiled from the squad after refusing to apologise to Ten Hag for his social media comments in which he accused the manager of making him a “scapegoat”.
There is also the ongoing uncertainty surrounding United’s takeover which does not appear any closer to a resolution since the club was first put up for sale by the Glazers in November last year.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
