Erik ten Hag says Man United ‘need to be more clinical’ after 3-0 friendly defeat to Liverpool in South Carolina
- Man United lost 3-0 to rivals Liverpool in a pre-season friendly on Saturday
- Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and Konstantinos Tsimikas scored the goals
- Erik ten Hag says his team created enough chances but wasted
Erik ten Hag was disappointed with his team’s missed chances as Manchester United lost 3-0 to rivals Liverpool in their pre-season friendly in the United States on Saturday.
Liverpool secured their third win from three games on their tour of the United States, effortlessly beating their South Carolina rivals.
There were 77,559 spectators in attendance at the Williams-Brice Stadium as Fabio Carvalho took advantage of poor defending to put the Reds ahead in the 10th minute.
Curtis Jones made it 2-0 before half-time and Konstantinos Tsimikas scored the third goal after the break.
After the game, Ten Hag said: ‘We created a lot of chances, what’s the difference between Liverpool and them?) It was the truth. Liverpool played well and took their chances. We created good chances, but we didn’t make them. We have to be more clinical.
Erik ten Hag says his team must be more clinical after Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool
In the end it is fatigue. We are 12 or 13 days on the road and it is a tough race. But maybe we lack the freshness to overload or to have the strength to finish clinically.
Jadon Sancho started the match for United in attack and Ten Hag was questioned over his future in the number 9 position.
“Otherwise we won’t play him there. That’s what we can do if we don’t have Rasmus available. Of course Joshua Zirkzee will join.
“He has started training. But he hasn’t been training for very long, so it will take time and he has to get used to English football and our way of playing. Of course Jadon can also play as a striker. He can also play on the wings, but he could be a good option.
Jadon Sancho started for the Red Devils in the absence of other attackers
Ten Hag was also asked about Marcus Rashford’s potential as a lone striker.
“I think Marcus has done it before, he can do it and it’s definitely an option,” he said.
‘But I think he’s more productive from the left wing, when he comes inside, so when he can get there he’s most effective. But we also have Bruno Fernandes as a striker.
On the defensive side, Ten Hag said: ‘We have good options for the centre-back position. Harry Maguire was a precaution. Jonny Evans was sick and we had to take him off at half-time. Licha Martinez, who came back from the Copa America as a winner. He played all the games there, so I think he is in very good shape. We have good options for the centre-back position.’
