Erik ten Hag admits his ‘complacent’ Man United side ‘kept FC Twente alive’ during their disheartening Europa League draw… and insists his team were punished by their own mistakes
Erik ten Hag vented his frustration at his Manchester United players for keeping Dutch opponents FC Twente ‘alive’ during Wednesday’s disappointing 1-1 Europa League draw at Old Trafford.
The United manager watched in dismay as his team fell apart in the second half against his former club, eventually conceding a cheap goal due to poor defensive play from the team.
Twente scored the dream goal on their return to European competition after an absence of more than ten years. Fullback Bart van Rooij made a great run past four United players on his way to the edge of the penalty area.
Manuel Ugarte later cleared the looming danger, but Christian Eriksen – who opened the scoring with a beautiful shot – was cheaply robbed of the ball and gave Sam Lammers a free passage to André Onana’s goal, before finishing with a powerful shot.
It was another game of big misses for United as Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee all impressed in the build-up but failed to score against the Eredivisie side.
Erik ten Hag vented his frustration with his Manchester United players during Wednesday’s Europa League draw
Ten Hag watched as his United players struggled to score a late winner at Old Trafford
FC Twente celebrated a famous point at Old Trafford on their return to European football
Ten Hag later brought on substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, but neither could influence the score and the home side were left with an improbable draw.
Ten Hag was furious after the game, telling TNT Sports: ‘We kept them alive when we were 1-0 up. We controlled the game and then you have to be consistent and keep going in the second half. We collapsed and gave away a goal.’
‘We didn’t finish it, we had to hunt for the second goal and they stayed alive and we are punished with a mistake of our own.
‘The goal is a team, the Twente player can dribble unhindered across the entire field, but he is not allowed to give away a goal.
‘The point is that we saw a good structure, but you have to keep going for the whole game and when you are 1-0 up, you have to keep going for the second. The first game is important, you win.’
Meanwhile, United midfielder Eriksen criticised his team-mates for not wanting to win more than Twente’s players, while Ten Hag admitted his players were not up to the required standards.
Ten Hag blamed his United players for their inaction against their Dutch opponents
United midfielder Christian Eriksen (pictured) questioned the team’s attitude
He later added: ‘It was the game of their lives, they fought for every +0 that we didn’t get. 99 percent is not enough, you have to give 100 percent, you have to decide the game, finish it, we are 1-0 up, but you have to go for the second goal, then the game is decided.’
‘Especially because we are very ambitious and when you have ambition you have to perform and make your point. And especially today in the second half we were too complacent, we didn’t let it go and as a team you have to show that.
‘I think the mentality of this team is often very good, I have seen in many matches how high our work ethic is and that is often very good. Today I do have some criticism. It is not only the team that has to look in the mirror, I am part of it.’
The under-pressure United manager will be hoping his side can produce a markedly improved performance when they host Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash.